Reviews

Gr 3-6-The story of the young mermaid who sacrifices her life for the human prince she loves is faithfully brought to life in this picture book. The text is largely unabridged and based on the translation by Mary Howitt, a contemporary and friend of the author who introduced his work to English-speaking audiences. The opulent full-page watercolors are a perfect complement to the fairy tale. Santore's sensuous depiction of the mermaids, with their floating, smoky curls, is suitably art nouveau and seems inspired by the works of Mucha and Beardsley. Through his clever use of contrasting palettes, the illustrations create two distinct worlds: the ethereal blues and greens of the Sea King's undersea realm, and the sun-drenched reds and golds of the prince's domain. The only awkward note in this book is the overcrowding of the small type and its jarring placement over the artwork. Caveat aside, this stylish and authentic interpretation of Andersen's tale feels like a much-needed sea breeze when compared to the diluted Disney version.-Denise Anton Wright, Illinois State University, Normal

If the entries in Stories from Hans Christian Andersen (see review above) dilute the headiness of their models, this volume presents a close-to-pristine translation of one of Andersen's most popular works along with highly charged and rather adult illustrations. The mid-19th-century translation by Mary Howitt (a friend of Andersen's) fully embraces the story's sense of yearning, courage and tragedy. Only minor changes have been made, according to a publisher's note, chiefly, ``eliminating some brief passages of heavily detailed description and moralizing.'' The prose here tends toward a somewhat removed elegance as opposed to a homely, conversational style. The art, however grand and lush the palace scenes, verges on the lurid when Santore trains his brush on the mermaid. She is eroticized, much like the figures in Charles Micolaycak's Orpheus. Young mermaid fanciers might do better with Mary Pope Osborne's Mermaid Tales from Around the World (reviewed June 28). Ages 8-up. (Sept.)