1A long time ago, there lived a prince who was looking for someone very special to marry. One of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories gets a breathtaking showcase, with lavish art and an elegant retelling by acclaimed writer, professor, and radio host John Cech. It's the second exquisite entry in the Classic Fairy Tale Collection series.

Although the handsome prince meets ladies blessed with beauty, wealth, and brains, he knows in his heart that none is the true princess he longs for. Then, one stormy night, a wet, disheveled, and very weary young woman knocks at the castle door. Could she be his queen? One tiny pea buried underneath 20 soft mattresses might reveal the truth...

Bernhard Oberdieck's stunning images, with their soft color and unusual perspectives, capture all the fantasy and romance of Andersen's appealing tale.