Bertall

E. T. A. Hoffmann's 1816 literary fairy tale, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," originally published in a collection of children's stories, recounts the magical adventures of Marie Stahlbaum's favorite Christmas toy. The story details how the nutcracker comes to life on Christmas Eve, engages in a battle with the formidable seven-headed Mouse King, and subsequently transports Marie to an enchanting realm populated by dolls. The narrative also includes a complex backstory, told by Marie's godfather, Drosselmeier, explaining the origin of nutcrackers through the tale of Princess Pirlipat and the curse of Madam Mouserinks, which transformed Drosselmeier's nephew into the nutcracker. Marie's unwavering affection and promise to love him regardless of his appearance ultimately break the curse. The story was later adapted into a famous ballet by Tchaikovsky, Petipa, and Ivanov in 1892.

The tale begins on Christmas Eve with young Marie Stahlbaum receiving various gifts, including a clockwork castle and a wooden nutcracker. When the nutcracker's jaw is broken, Marie lovingly bandages it. Later that night, as Marie drifts to sleep, the toy cabinet transforms into a battlefield. The nutcracker comes alive, rallying the dolls to fight against an army of mice led by the Mouse King. Marie, witnessing the nutcracker's struggle, intervenes by throwing her slipper, which causes her to faint. Upon waking, she recounts the fantastical events to her disbelieving parents.

Marie's godfather, Drosselmeier, elaborates on the origins of the nutcracker by telling a convoluted story involving Princess Pirlipat and Madam Mouserinks, the Queen of the Mice. Madam Mouserinks cursed Pirlipat, transforming her into an unattractive creature with a nutcracker-like appearance. The only cure involved cracking a specific nut, Krakatook, by a man who had never been shaved or worn boots. Drosselmeier's nephew fulfilled this task, but in doing so, stumbled on Madam Mouserinks, incurring a curse that turned him into a nutcracker himself. Pirlipat's subsequent rejection led to his banishment.

The narrative continues with the Mouse King, son of Madam Mouserinks, demanding Marie's sweets and dolls. The nutcracker, empowered by Marie's vow to love him unconditionally, defeats the Mouse King and presents Marie with his seven crowns. He then escorts her to a magical doll kingdom. Marie's eventual declaration of love to the nutcracker, promising to accept him despite his appearance, breaks the curse, restoring his human form. He proposes marriage, and Marie accepts, becoming queen in the doll kingdom.

First published in Berlin in 1816 as part of "Kinder-Mährchen," Hoffmann's story was later included in "The Serapion Brethren." Its publication history in Britain and the U.S. involved various translations and adaptations, some of which altered names and settings to suit local audiences. Notably, some adaptations, like one illustrated by Bertall, are considered to align more closely with the darker undertones of Hoffmann's original tale compared to others that presented a more sanitized version.