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Overview
“The Nutcracker and the Mouse-King,” originally published in German under the title “Nussknacker und Mausekönig,” is a short fairy tale by E. T. A. Hoffmann
. Written in 1816, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse-King” tells the story of Maria and the Nutcracker she receives from her godfather on Christmas Eve. The Nutcracker, made ugly by Lady Mouserings’ curse, defeats the evil Mouse King and transforms back into a man thanks to Maria’s kindness. Despite its fantastical elements, E. T. A. Hoffmann’s tale has darker undertones which comment on a number of the era’s social ills. Modern iterations of the story typically omit this quality in favor of emphasizing the joy and wonder of the holiday season.Read the free full text, the full story summary, and the full story analysis of “The Nutcracker and the Mouse-King.”
