Very interesting to read the actual story that the famous ballet is based upon. Most of the characters were familiar but the story was a new one for me. In most respects, it is a very typical fairy tale of
the type the Grimms had in their books. I enjoyed it and will look at the ballet a bit differently now. ( )

An enchanting fairy tale written in quaint English. It took me back to my early reading, where I read a lot of fairy tales along with Secret Seven and Biggles. I was surprised at how brutal it was in places, with the slaying of people and mice.
I enjoyed the tongue in cheek humour of the author, one chapter is titled ‘How the Mechanician and the Astrologer wander over the four quarters of the world and discover a fifth’.