Welcome to my 13 days of Halloween, during which I will make your hair curl with freaky folktales. Tonight’s terrifying tale is De røde Skoe, or The Red Shoes, by Hans Christian Andersen. This is the 1899 translation done by Susannah Mary Paull.
This story warns children not to be vain, and to show proper respect for those who care for them. HC Andersen named the main character after his sister Karen, whom he hated.
So catty.
You can find the commentary-free version of this story over on my storytelling channel: