The Nutcracker - retelling a classic tale

The Nutcracker is an unlikely classic that has taken many forms. It began as a dark tale by E.T.A. Hoffman, was sweetened by Alexandre Dumas, and turned into a ballet by Tchaikovsky and choreographers Petipa and Ivanov. Even then it wasn’t an instant success, and it took years for the ballet to become the beloved Christmas tradition it is today. (Check out this video to learn more about the ballet’s history.)

So why is it so popular? The ballet itself retains barely a hint of the original story, but enough to make an impression. The story seems to strike a chord the way the best fairy tales do, using fantastical situations to draw out our childhood dreams (a land of sweets) and fears (a wicked mouse king.)

Many artists have been inspired to reinterpret the story in books and films. Just this month saw the release of The Nutcracker in 3D, a steampunk adventure loosely inspired by the original story. The film has been unanimously panned by critics (it got a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes!) Other film versions have been more successful, but it isn’t easy to reinterpret a story that everyone thinks they know, as you end up trying to please all parties.

Book adaptations have fared somewhat better, perhaps because a single author or illustrator can bring more artistic focus to the retelling, as opposed to the layers of committee that steer large films. Here are just a few of the Nutcracker books that have been published over the years. It’s interesting to see the variety of interpretation, yet there are consistencies too, which is important in retelling a familiar tale. As the new movie version shows, a radical reinterpretation of a classic is indeed possible, but it's a hard nut to crack.

Illustrated by Gennady Spirin
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Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
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Illustrated by Susan Jeffers
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Retold by Deborah Hautzig, Illustrated by Diane Goode
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Retold by Stephanie Spinner, Illustrated by Peter Malone
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Illustrated by Warren Chappell
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Retold by John Cech, illustrated by Eric Puybaret
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Illustrated by Julie Paschkis
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Retold by Karen Kain, illustrated by Rajka Kupesic
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Illustrated by Allison Jay
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Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
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