DOM DELUISE'S THE NIGHTINGALE

by Dom DeLuise ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1998

DeLuise's ode to freedom, a retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic, has on its side good intentions and little else. A poor but benevolent king discovers a lost, well-endowed gold mine in his kingdom. He becomes rich, an entrepreneur, a resort-builder. All his assets don't make the king ""happy inside,"" where it counts; only the burbling of a nightingale's sweet song delivers that. When the king cages the bird, it will no longer sing. Court craftsmen construct a mechanical bird with a lovely song and the king forgets the real article, which escapes, until the fake breaks. The king becomes ill until the real nightingale returns and restores him to health; the monarch grasps that the best things in life are free. DeLuise plays fast and loose with Andersen's parable--the king builds a Las Vegas--style resort complex with his newfound wealth--and he overstates the elusive ideal of inner peace to a degree. Following the story and amiable art, recipes and a song score close the book.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1998

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1998

Categories: CHILDREN'S