The story revolves around a young girl who receives a necklace with a row of pearls from her mother before she dies. The girl's father remarries and the new wife treats her poorly, taking away the pearl necklace. The girl runs away to the sea where she meets a mermaid who gives her a magical shell that allows her to communicate with the sea creatures.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1837 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Travel Literature, Historical Fiction