A beautifully illustrated new translation of a beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale At the bottom of the deepest sea, six sisters dream of seeing the beauty of life on land. Most eager of all is the youngest mermaid, who waits impatiently for her fifteenth birthday, when she will finally be allowed to explore the upper world. Her first sight above water is the spectacular birthday celebration of a handsome prince: as sailors dance and fireworks sparkle, she falls deeply in love. With her heart set on joining the prince on land as a human, the little mermaid sets out on a quest to leave her underwater life behind, no matter the cost. Romantic, heartbreaking and full of wonder, The Little Mermaid remains one of the most powerful fairy tales ever written. This volume also includes The True-Hearted Tin Soldier, Andersen's moving tale of love and sacrifice. Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was born in Odense, Denmark, the son of a poor shoemaker. The king helped to pay for his education, enabling him to become a short-story writer, novelist and playwright. He remains best known for his fairy tales, which include The Red Shoes, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Ugly Duckling. Pushkin Children's also publishes The Snow Queen and The Wild Swans.