The foundation of the modern science of narrative texts-narratology-has, to a great extent, been the folktale and the fairy tale. This book directs the narratological focus towards another tale-genre, namely the literary imitation of the traditional tale known as the art M rchen in its undoubtedly most famous expression, the stories of the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. This volume provides for new readings of Andersen's stories and throws new light on narratology through the exploration of his highly complex tales.