HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN STORIES FOR GROWN-UPS

Most of us think of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales as stories for children and, indeed, many of them are delightful for young readers. But Andersen himself often entertained adults with his tales, and he longed to be remembered as an author of serious literature. Besides, some of his stories are downright maudlin and might leave sensitive children in tears. This may be why Aurora Wetzel has divided her collection of Andersen stories into separate volumes for grown-ups and children. This collection contains mainly lesser-known tales, all with relatively new translations. The timbre of Wetzel's voice lends her storytelling a grandmotherly feel, and her enthusiasm for the material is evident in her reading. Without overacting, she takes on a wide array of characters. D.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 99]