The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a Christmas Classic written in 1816 by E. T. A. Hoffmann
on which the famous ballet The Nutcracker is based. In the story young Marie Stahlbaum's
favorite Christmas toy the Nutcracker comes alive and after defeating the evil Mouse King in
battle whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. The story begins on Christmas
Eve at the Stahlbaum house. Marie seven and her brother Fritz eight sit outside the parlor
speculating about what kind of present their godfather Drosselmeyer who is a clockmaker and
inventor has made for them. They are at last allowed in where they receive many splendid
gifts...
