This Old Story - Fables and Folktales

A young mermaid princess trades her voice and her tail for a chance to walk among humans and win the love of a prince—but the price of failure is death.

Show Notes

A young mermaid princess trades her voice and her tail for a chance to walk among humans and win the love of a prince—but the price of failure is death. In Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale, the sea maiden's longing reaches far beyond romance into questions of sacrifice, identity, and what it means to possess an immortal soul. The story's haunting ending, in which love does not conquer all, has surprised readers for nearly two centuries.

What is This Old Story - Fables and Folktales?

Family-friendly retellings of fables and short tales from world traditions, followed by thoughtful discussion about choices, values, and meaning.