Andersen's fairy tales, consisting of 156 stories and translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness. The stories are readily accessible to children, but present lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. His most famous fairy tales include "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Little Mermaid," "The Nightingale," "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Red Shoes," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Snow Queen," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Little Match Girl," and "Thumbelina." His stories have inspired ballets, plays, and animated and live-action films.

"The Little Mermaid" was completely Andersen's creation, though influenced by De la Motte Fouqué's "Undine" (1811) and the lore about mermaids. This tale established Andersen's international reputation. Andersen's work sometimes drew on old folktales but more often deployed fairytale motifs and plots in new tales.

This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian-inspired dust jacket.