Good news! Maurice Sendak's splendidly illustrated version of E. T. A Hoffman's Nutcracker is back in print. This tale of Hoffman was the basis for Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker. It is translated by Ralph Manheim. And I have one beautiful copy of the book to give away!
Here's a blurb from the publisher, Random House, who also graciously supplied the book for this giveaway (now completed) as well as the wonderful images below.
NUTCRACKER, reissued a few months following Sendak’s death and on the 50th anniversary of Where the Wild Things Are, is a lush and beautifully illustrated edition that serves as a wonderful tribute to his life at a time when his legions of fans worldwide are honoring his legacy and ballets are performing their own versions of this timeless classic. Sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Christmas production of Nutcracker and brought that same extraordinary vision and creativity to the magnificent pictures displayed in this collaboration with eminent translator Ralph Manheim. Called “a classic, new and complete” by the New York Times Book Review, Sendak’s NUTCRACKER(On Sale October 30, 2012) brings to life E.T.A. Hoffmann’s mysterious world with his timeless, haunting, and wildly imaginative illustrations, and this stunning reissue has been published just in time for the holidays.
Maurice Sendak,Nutcracker
Maurice Sendak,The Christmas Tree
Maurice Sendak,The Story of the Hard Nut: Madam Mouserinks in Pirlipat's Cradle
Maurice Sendak,The Story of the Hard Nut: Madam Mouserinks Expires
Crown Publishing Group's Press Release for Nutcracker
Giveaway Rules: This contest is open to those with U.S. addresses only. To enter, leave a comment on this post, The contest closes after 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 11, 2012. Your comment should reflect something you like about the art of Maurice Sendak, or the book, or the ballet. As always, I reserve the right to delete comments that I deem spammy or crude, and the decision of this judge is final. Only one entry per person, but if you enter and are a follower of this blog, I will award you an additional entry automatically. I will select the one winner at random and announce the winner here, probably on December 12. The winner will then have 24 hours to notify me of a mailing address. After 24 hours, I reserve the right to award the book to another entrant if I don't hear from the winner.
December 12, 2012 Update:Congratulations to reader Sous-Chef, the winner of this blog's first giveaway.