
In a palace of porcelain and gardens adorned with silver‑bell flowers, a Chinese emperor learns of a nightingale whose song has enchanted travelers from every corner of the world. The bird’s melody is spoken of as the finest music ever heard, outshining even the splendor of his own court. Curious and proud, the ruler orders his courtiers to bring the elusive singer before him that very evening.
The search sends the emperor’s most trusted cavalier racing through endless corridors, only to discover that none at court have ever heard of the bird. At last a modest kitchen girl, caring for her ailing mother, mentions the nightingale she knows from the forest beyond the palace walls. What happens when the emperor finally confronts the source of the famed song remains a gentle tale of wonder and humility.
Language
en
Duration
~21 minutes (20K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: R. H. Russel, 1898.
Credits
Sonya Schermann and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2023-07-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1805–1875
Best known for timeless fairy tales like "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Emperor’s New Clothes," this Danish writer turned stories for children into classics loved by readers of all ages. His work mixes wonder, sadness, humor, and hope in a way that still feels fresh today.
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