The Philosopher’s Stone by Hans Christian Andersen
"The Philosopher's Stone" by Hans Christian Andersen
This was a new fairy tale to me, one that I've never heard before. The version I read, available at SurLaLune is from Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales. Mrs. Henry H. B. Paull, translator. [1872, 1883]. It tells of the wisest man in the world who lives in a crystal castle at the top of the Tree of the Sun in India. He knows everything there is to know, including has happened and what will happen. In a secret chamber in the castle is his most treasure possession, the Book of Truth, which he had read through, page by page, except the section titled "Life after Death" whose pages appeared blank.
This man had five intelligent children, four sons and one blind daughter.
He spoke to them of the true, the beautiful, and...