A good fairy tale is a splendid thing, richly decorated and as deceptively simple as a snowflake, crystal-woven with glittering images of sweetness and melancholy-edged gladness, immortal in its joyous appeal. The best writers of fairy tales can without exaggeration be called geniuses—and they don’t come better than Hans Christian Andersen. What a delight when an audio book of Andersen’s fairy tales is given such charming and finely detailed readings as those here. From the exquisite story of Thumbelina—most captivatingly narrated by Eleanor Buchan—through other less well-known tales as ‘The Metal Pig’, ‘The Storks’, ‘The Silver Shilling’, ‘The Butterfly’, ‘The Flea and the Professor’, ‘The Flying Trunk’; taking in tales more familiar such as ‘The Brave Tin Soldier’ and ‘The Princess and the Pea’; and finishing with the justly famous tale of the nightingale, this is a collection to treasure. Almost every moment in this audio book, narrated by 10 finalists from the Naxos ‘Voice of the Year’ competition, is deft and sure, the majority of the readings a wonderful amalgamation of vivid warmth, charm, elegant liveliness and sheer magic. These are fine readings conveying the robust, innocent and exquisite wonder of fairy tales for children and adults alike.