{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Season 2, Episode 4 -The Fir Tree","description":"Festive Greetings, You are cordially invited to join us for a sleigh ride back into the past courtesy of the Christmas episode of our second season. It\u2019s our version of Hans Christian Andersen\u2019s fairy tale The Fir Tree, which was originally published in 1844 in New Fairy Tales, Volume One, Collection Two (or to give it its Danish title, Nye Eventyr. F\u00f8rste Bind, Anden Samling). Hans Christian Andersen only had a basic education in a school for poor children, but became a true giant in the world of children\u2019s literature, writing his name indelibly into the history books with his vivid imagination. The Fir Tree isn\u2019t as well-known as some of his other stories, but has a bittersweet quality which makes it hard to forget. It tells of a fir tree who yearns to leave his forest home, only to find that life in the outside world does not live up to his expectations. It is allegorical of the experience of growing old, and as such has a strong resonance with readers of all ages. Our adaptation uses an early English translation with music by Kevin McLeod and our usual immersive soundscape. We hope you enjoy it. ","author_name":"Back of the Bookshelf","author_url":"http:\/\/www.carter-stephenson.co.uk\/botb.html","html":"