This image is the cover for the book Undine

Undine

The “beautiful” classic fairytale of the ill-fated love between a mermaid and a knight (George MacDonald).

This universally loved fairytale, written by German novelist and playwright Friedrich La Motte-Fouqué, has been adapted into operas, songs, ballets, and films, since its original publication in the early 1800s. Undine is the exquisite tale of the all-too-human emotions that drive, and ultimately threaten, magical love.

When a knight, Sir Huldbrand of Ringstetten, comes upon a humble fisherman’s cottage, he is immediately charmed by the old couple’s mischievous adopted daughter Undine, whose true parentage is unknown. Trapped in the cottage by a flood, the knight and the fair maiden are blissfully happy together, despite Undine’s capriciousness, and are eventually married. But unknown to Huldbrand, Undine is a water spirit, and their union has given her a sought-after prize: a soul. And now possessed with that most human of gifts, she will have to endure the many joys and sufferings that come along with it—for better or worse . . .

Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué

Friedrich de la Motte-Fouqué was a German writer of the Romantic style. He was born at Brandenburg an der Havel, of a family of French Huguenot origin. Although not originally intended for a military career, Fouqué ultimately gave up his university studies at Halle to join the army, and he took part in the Rhine campaign of 1794. The rest of his life was devoted mainly to literary pursuits. Fouqué’s first marriage was unhappy and soon ended in divorce. His second wife, Caroline Philippine von Briest, enjoyed some reputation as a novelist in her day. After her death, Fouqué married a third time. He died in 1843, at age sixty-five, in Berlin.