The Emperor's New Clothes
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Authors
Andersen, H. C
San José, Christine
Issue Date
1998
Type
Book, Whole
Language
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Abstract
Copyright Esslinger Verlag J.F. Schreiber, Vienna. Who knows if I have crossed a border into something other than fable in including this book and this story. The story keeps growing on me, and this book is part of the reason. The story sets up the emperor as interested only in clothes, especially new clothes that he could show off. The faithful old prime minister is the first asked by the king to view the cloth that the two swindlers are weaving, cloth that cannot be seen by anyone who is stupid. Well at least I'll not be so stupid as to let anyone know I am. The empty loom figures in illustration after illustration in this large-format book. Next is the Master of the Imperial Wardrobe. Third of all is the Emperor himself, with all his lords and ladies. Thereupon he even names the swindlers Master Crafters of the Emperor's Empire. One of the book's best pictures is the Emperor's first look at himself in the mirror as he is clad in his new robes. Equally good is the next pair of pages showing him marching under the canopy as trumpeters play. As we open the final two pages, we see on the right page the two swindlers lurking away with huge bags of gold over their shoulders. On the left we see a child, who says He's got nothing on! This repeated sentence soon grows to a roar among the crowd. The lords and ladies, however, follow the emperor's lead: The procession must go on. They kept their eyes on the cloth that was not there. The exiting swindlers' picture turns out to be the end of the story. Well done! Reinforced trade edition.
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Citation
Publisher
Caroline House: Boyds Mills Press