Brick Fairy Tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, and More (76 page)

for she saw that it was King Thrushbeard, her suitor whom she had driven away with scorn.

Her struggles were of no avail, he drew her into the hall; but the string by which her pockets were hung broke, the pots fell down, the soup ran out, and the scraps were scattered all about.

And when the people saw it, there arose general laughter and derision, and she was so ashamed that she would rather have been a thousand fathoms below the ground.

She sprang to the door and would have run away,

but on the stairs a man caught her and brought her back; and when she looked at him it was King Thrushbeard again. He said to her kindly, “Do not be afraid, I and the fiddler who has been living with you in that wretched hovel are one.

For love of you I disguised myself so; and I also was the hussar who rode through your crockery. This was all done to humble your proud spirit, and to punish you for the insolence with which you mocked me.”

Then she wept bitterly and said, “I have done great wrong, and am not worthy to be your wife.”

But he said, “Be comforted, the evil days are past; now we will celebrate our wedding.” Then the maids-in-waiting came and put on her the most splendid clothing,

and her father and his whole court came and wished her happiness in her marriage with King Thrushbeard, and the joy now began in earnest. I wish you and I had been there too.

A
BOUT
T
HE
A
UTHORS

Members of the Hollan Publishing team, John McCann, Monica Sweeney, and Becky Thomas all collaborated to make Brick Fairy Tales possible.

John McCann designed, constructed, and photographed the brick scenes. A New England native, John has over two decades of experience playing with LEGO bricks. He enjoys relaxing lakeside and can solve a Rubik’s Cube in three days flat. John has a BS in biomedical engineering from the University of Hartford and is currently pursuing his masters. He is also the coauthor of Brick Shakespeare: The Tragedies—Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar, Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew, Loom Magic! 25 Awesome, Never-Before-Seen Designs for an Amazing Rainbow of Projects, and Loom Magic Xtreme!: 25 Spectacular, Never-Before-Seen Designs for Rainbows of Fun.

Monica Sweeney helped select the Grimm fairy tales for construction and helped write the introduction. Monica loves all things related to Spain and Chaucer and has yet to say no to a mini powdered donut. She graduated with honors in English from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst. She is also the coauthor of Brick Shakespeare: The Tragedies—Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar, Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew, and Loom Magic Xtreme!: 25 Spectacular, Never-Before-Seen Designs for Rainbows of Fun.

Becky Thomas helped select the Grimm fairy tales for construction and helped write the introduction. In her spare time, Becky enjoys breaking the bindings of all books Jane Austen, playing video games, and trying out new recipes. She graduated with honors in English from the University of Massuchesetts–Amherst, and she is also the coauthor of Brick Shakespeare: The Tragedies—Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar, Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew, Loom Magic! 25 Awesome, Never-Before-Seen Designs for an Amazing Rainbow of Projects, and Loom Magic Xtreme!: 25 Spectacular, Never-Before-Seen Designs for Rainbows of Fun.

ALSO AVAILABLE

Brick Shakespeare

The Comedies—
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
,
The Tempest
,
Much Ado About Nothing
, and
The Taming of the Shrew

Construction and Photography by John McCann

Edited and Narrated by Monica Sweeney and Becky Thomas

Explore four of Shakespeare’s comedies like never before—with LEGO bricks! This book presents Shakespeare’s most delightful comedies,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
,
Much Ado About Nothing
,
The Taming of the Shrew
, and
The Tempest
, in one thousand amazing color photographs. This unique adaptation of the world’s most famous plays stays true to Shakespeare’s original text, while giving audiences an exciting new perspective as the stories are retold with the universally beloved construction toy.

Get caught up in hilarious misadventures as brick Puck leads the lovers astray through the brick forests of Athens. Watch Cupid kill with traps in the plot to marry Beatrice and Benedick. Marvel at the changing disguises of the men vying for brick Bianca’s affections, and feel the churn of the ocean as Prospero sinks his brother’s ship into the brick sea. These iconic stories jump off the page with fun, creative sets built brick by brick, scene by scene!

This incredible method of storytelling gives new life to Shakespeare’s masterpieces. With an abridged form that maintains original Shakespearean language and modern visuals, this ode to the Bard is sure to please all audiences, from the most versed Shakespeare enthusiasts to young students and newcomers alike!