Reviews

The Pied Piper of Hamlin by Robert Browning

lisavegan's review

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3.0

I recently finished a prose version of this tale that was by Sara and Stephen Corrin and was illustrated by Errol Le Cain, and I really loved it. I’m about to read another prose edition that’s by Robert Holden and illustrated by Drahos Zak.

This book is the famous poem by Robert Browning and it’s illustrated by Kate Greenaway. I’d thought I’d grown up with the poem but now I know that I was mistaken. I did grow up with a song (that record is in a box that’s not readily accessible) and the lyrics and tune were very catchy. I did grow up with the story too; I now am assuming that it was the Grimm Brothers version.

I’ve always been fascinated by this story but I was not favorably impressed with this poem. I do not think I’d have at all enjoyed it as a child and even now I prefer this tale told in story form.

The Kate Greenaway illustrations were colorful but the paintings seemed to encompass different styles, some of which I loved and some of which I thought were just okay.

zeddredd99's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

angeline03's review against another edition

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5.0

A classic I enjoyed when I was a child.

nerdkitten's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mahmoud_radi's review against another edition

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5.0

أعرف حكاية (الزمار) منذ الصغر، قرأتها في أكثر من مصدر، وشاهدتها في العديد من اﻷعمال الرسومية، لكن أول معرفة لي بالنسخة المنظومة شعرًا التي كتبها روبرت براونينج لهذه الحكاية كانت من خلال الفيلم الكندي "حياة آخروية حلوة" للمخرج أتوم يوجين حين كانت بطلة الفيلم نيكول بارنيل تقرأ منه خلال اﻷحداث، وخاصة الجزء الذي يقرر فيه الزمار الانتقام من أهل البلدة الذين بخسوا حقه بعد مساعدتهم في التغلب على مشكلة انتشار الفئران في البلدة بأسرها، وحديث الفتى العاجز الذي لم يفلح في اللحاق ببقية اﻷطفال الذين لحقوا بالزمار بالتماس مع حالة عجزها عن الحركة بعد تعرضها لحادثة بباص المدرسة.

bhall237's review against another edition

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3.0

“You threaten us, fellow? Do your worst, Blow your pipe there till you burst!"

A general rule to follow is to pay someone for a service they provide for you that you are unable or unwilling to provide for yourself. Another general rule is that if you refuse to pay someone for their service, don’t ask them to do their worst, because they can and they more than likely will. This is a great cautionary tale that is a lot more disturbing and darker than any memory I have of it from when I was a child. I love the dread that comes through the page as the parents can do nothing but stand in place like a block of wood and watch as the children of the town follow the Pied Piper out of the town, and are never seen again. There’s the air of horror in this fairytale that makes the story stick with you after reading and I can remember an animation of the story that accompanies this feeling perfectly. The writing itself gets a tad taxing with the rhyming schemes and allusions, but overall a very quick and fun read that creeped me out more than I had expected. The amazing animations in this version of the story really add to the experience and the atmosphere of the whole story.

allmadhere106's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a wonderful edition to this poem. I enjoyed the layout the most, as the poem is broken up/slowed down amongst the illustrations to add suspense and understanding of the text. Disconcerting and lovely.

For: folklore fans; readers wanting a version with Browning's original poem alongside illustrations.

Possible red flags: lies and going back on one's word; rats; animal death; kidnapping.

emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this poem for my Children's Literature class. I'd heard parts of this story before as a child, but I never realized what happened at the end... that the Pied Piper's magic extends to more than rats. Fascinating story.

ejwilf98's review against another edition

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funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Read while I was in Transylvania! It was fun. 

yooni's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5