Swan Lake [Hardcover]

Lisbeth Zwerger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

Swan Lake is perhaps the best-loved ballet of all time. Hans Christian Andersen Medal-winner Lisbeth Zwerger brings her singular vision to a glorious picture-book adaptation of the haunting story of an enchanted swan princess. She has based her version on Tchaikovsky’s original 1877 ballet, which had a happy ending, unlike the later, better-known, 1893 version. Her illustrations, luminous, lyrical, filled with grace and beauty, evoke the brilliance of the ballet and the universal appeal of this beloved fairy tale.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-This smooth retelling of the classic ballet is accompanied by evocative watercolor illustrations that use form, color, and shape to convey its enchantment. Dominated by blue, green, and gray backgrounds, the art captures the sweep of the lake, the wonder of the transformation of swans to maidens, and the darkness of betrayal. The "first" ending leaves the fate of the lovers ambiguous, but with a turn of the page, readers learn that the prince and the Swan Queen were married, and the bridesmaids "were reluctant to wear white dresses with feather trim-." An author's note explains why Zwerger chose this new happy ending, and it is up to readers to decide if they can accept it. Whatever their reaction, this version of Swan Lake deserves a place on the shelves with the one by Margot Fonteyn (Harcourt, 1993), illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, and the more recent version by AdŠle Geras (David & Charles, 2001).
Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. Confessing in an appended note that she had approached Swan Lake with mixed feelings because of its tragic conclusion, Zwerger found that her research supported a happier ending, based on Tchaikovsky's original version of the ballet in 1877. In this picture book, Zwerger offers a series of subtle, delicate paintings illustrating that story. Decorated with swans, boughs, and other figures and flourishes, a few bars of music appear on each left-hand page above the text, offering a musical context for each scene. Facing are large, bordered paintings that illustrate part of the story. Their magical yet somber tone and muted colors suit the many night settings. The delicately composed artwork also has surreal touches, such as the thundercloud that enters the ballroom above the villains' heads, and the swan's-head effects sometimes created with the swan queen's hands. Some of the finest pictures are compositions in black, white, and many shades of gray. Told with drama and illustrated with grace, this is a handsome interpretation of the story. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: North-South Books; 1st ed. thus edition (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735817022
• ISBN-13: 978-0735817029
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #915,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Swan Lake, October 22, 2002

By 

V. Charbonneau (Quebec, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swan Lake (Hardcover)

There were two reasons why I picked up this book: the first being that it was illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger, whose art I greatly admire, and the second because "Swan Lake" is one of my favorite ballets. Unfortunately, this book turned out to be a real disappointment for me. Those familiar with the ballet know of its unhappy conclusion. However, originally the ballet was written with a happy ending which was preserved in this edition. I am not against happy endings, but the way it was presented was too bare bones---no meat at all. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, girl quickly forgives boy and they live happily ever after, the end. Both the narration and characters were flat and left me indifferent. Even Zwerger's illustrations lacked a certain something. I would recommend treating a child to Tchaikovsky's music than this work. For those wishing to enjoy Zwerger's superb art, as well as a captivating story should check out "Dwarf Nose", "The Wizard of Oz", "Alice in Wonderland", and if you are able to obtain them in an out-of-print shop, "The Deliverers of Their Country" and "The Nutcracker".

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Retelling....., January 22, 2003

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swan Lake (Hardcover)

"Once upon a time, all you needed was the right mix of enough evil and a good spell to transform a person into a tree, a rock, or even an animal. In those days, there lived a prince..." So begins award winning author and illustrator, Lisbeth Zwerger's, captivating retelling of Tchaikovsky's, Swan Lake. Her eloquent prose is filled with imagery and magic, and enhanced by evocative illustrations in soft, dreamy hues. Together word and art dazzle, and bring the beautiful story of love found and lost, to life on the page. Unlike the beloved and familiar ballet, Ms Zwerger gives her adaptation an upbeat, happily-ever-after ending. As she explains in her Author's Note, Tchaikovsky wrote the original fairy tale dance in 1871 as a gift to his sister's children. It retained the "love conquers all" happy ending when he premiered his full length ballet six years later. It wasn't until after his death, sixteen years later, that the story was reworked by his brother and given the now famous tragic ending. Perfect for youngsters 7 and older, Swan Lake is both an engaging, read aloud fairy tale, and a marvelous introduction to the wonders of ballet, that should whet the appetite and send you looking for a recording and performance.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The natural appeal of this book is great, April 8, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swan Lake (Hardcover)

"With a flash, the lake was bathed in a shimmering light, and before him stood the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. 'I am the Swan Queen,' she said. `I am the swan that you tried to kill.'" The somber but beautiful drama of Tchaikovsky's brilliant ballet. "Swan Lake," has been transformed into an elegant picture book for children retold and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger, and translated by Marianne Martens. Zwerger - a Hans Chrisitan Andersen Medal-winner for lifetime achievement - is in glorious form here. Her mysterious paintings are filled with emotion, urgency, light and shadow, while her formal, dramatic text is as radiantly ethereal as the Swan Queen herself. Few contemporary princess tales can come close to providing the grace and majesty contained in the breathless passages here. It's a thing of beauty to be cherished. Next to "The Nutcracker," "Swan Lake" is the most popular ballet for young children, so the natural appeal of this book is great, particularly for budding ballerina's in training prone to their own flights of fancy.