The Nutcracker (The Essential Christmas Classics Collection)

E.T.A. Hoffmann’s whimsical novella, originally titled Nutcracker and Mouse King and the inspiration behind Tchaikovsky’s ballet, now has a festive new look in this beautiful edition.

When Maria is given a nutcracker by her mysterious Godfather Drosselmeier, it seems like an ordinary gift. But as the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, she finds her nutcracker embroiled in a fight with a sinister Mouse King—no ordinary toy after all, but a cursed hero. Together, they embark on a fantastical journey, encountering a host of charming characters.

Filled with Christmas magic and festive scenes full of presents, sugarplums, and gingerbread, this imaginative classic has been a part of annual holiday celebrations for generations.

E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776–1822) was a writer, composer, and painter. Born in Prussia, he served as a law officer until Napoleon’s invasion, after which he settled in Germany and turned his attention to the arts. He is best remembered for his writings of Romanticism and Gothic Horror, and for his novella originally titled Nutcracker and Mouse King, which later inspired Tchaikovsky’s ballet.