Read by Alison Larkin

The first great fantasy novel, The Princess and the Goblin, published in 1872, had a strong influence on C S Lewis and J R Tolkien - who have inspired many of our greatest writers of modern-day fantasy, from J K Rowling to Sarah J Maas.. It is loved by fans of fantasy fiction to this day. Eight-year-old Princess Irene lives in a remote mountainous region with no one but her nursemaid for company. Then she meets a mysterious old woman and Curdie, a young miner. Meanwhile, deep in the heart of the earth beneath her lurk grotesque and hideous creatures seeking vengeance against human kind. The Goblin and the Grocer by Hans Christian Andersen is a short fairy story about a very different sort of goblin who must choose between poetry and an edible Christmas treat. Hailed by The Times (London) as "hugely entertaining", award-winning narrator Alison Larkin uses her wide range of voices to bring this powerful, delightful classic to a brand new audience…

Mode of access: World Wide Web