By: Friedrich de La Motte-Fouqué (1777-1843)
Undine is a beautifully written fairy tale that follows the story of a water nymph who falls in love with a human knight. The author does a wonderful job of highlighting the differences between the two worlds and the challenges they face in trying to be together.
The characters are well-developed and the love story between Undine and her knight is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The imagery used throughout the book creates a vivid picture of the fantastical world in which they live.
Overall, Undine is a captivating and enchanting tale that will appeal to readers of all ages. Its themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption make it a timeless classic that will stay with you long after you finish reading. Book Description:
Undine is a novel by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué concerning Undine, a water spirit who marries a Knight named Huldebrand in order to gain a soul. It is an early German romance, which has been translated into English and other languages. The novel served as inspiration for two operas in the romantic style by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann and Albert Lortzing, respectively, and two ballets: the nineteenth century Ondine and the twentieth century Undine. An edition of the book was illustrated by Arthur Rackham. In The Fantastic Imagination, George MacDonald writes, “Were I asked, what is a fairytale? I should reply, Read Undine: that is a fairytale … of all fairytales I know, I think Undine the most beautiful.”
|