1873 illustration from the first Ukrainian translation. X
Danish author Hans Christian Andersen‘s fairy tale Thumbelina was published for the first time on the 16th of December, 1835.
The story, about a “thumb-sized” girl who goes on an adventure involving toads, birds, and a mole, and who then meets a miniature prince, wasn’t well-received at the time because it didn’t teach any morals.
The first English translation of the book was completed by Mary Howitt in the 1840s.
Usually omitted from English versions of the story, Andersen’s original featured a bluebird telling the story to Andersen himself. The bird had been in love with Thumbelina, and was heartbroken when she married the prince.
In Times Gone By... 
._%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80._78-79.png){kind=link}