The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffmann. Short summary

5 seconds

Marie is given the Nutcracker, a toy that can crack nuts, for Christmas. The wooden toy turns out to be a noble young man, enchanted by Myshilda. Marie helps him break the Nutcracker’s spell.

1 minute

On Christmas Eve, the Stahlbaum children, Fritz and Marie, receive an unusual gift—an ugly wooden Nutcracker doll. Before going to bed, the girl takes one last look at the toys stacked in the closet and sees an unusual battle. She is led by the toys, led by the Nutcracker, and the Mouse King with his army. Marie tries to help, but feels pain in her arm, after which she falls senseless to the floor. The next day she tells her parents everything, but they do not believe her.

Marie’s godfather repairs the Nutcracker and tells the little man’s story. The wooden toy used to be a handsome noble boy, but he was bewitched by Myshilda. The spell will be broken when the Nutcracker defeats the Mouse King and the Fair Lady falls in love with him. The wooden toy defeats the Mouse King, and Marie falls in love with him after a trip to fairyland.

A young man comes to Stahlbaum’s house to ask for Marie’s hand; he confesses that he used to be the Nutcracker, but Myshilde’s charms have dissipated.