The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

On Christmas Eve, toys come alive—and a magical battle begins. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (1816), by E. T. A. Hoffmann, is the whimsical and imaginative tale that inspired Tchaikovsky's world-famous ballet The Nutcracker. The story follows young Marie Stahlbaum, who receives a nutcracker doll as a Christmas gift. When midnight strikes, the nutcracker comes to life, leading Marie into ...