Get ready for a thrilling and spine-tingling twist on a classic fairy tale! This September, the legendary horror master Stephen King and the late, beloved children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak will come together in an extraordinary way—bringing a chilling reimagining of Hansel and Gretel to life. Though these two literary giants never crossed paths in real life, their darkly creative minds will finally meet within the pages of this highly anticipated edition.
Set to be released by HarperCollins Publishers on September 2, this new take on the Grimm Brothers' Hansel and Gretel will blend King’s signature storytelling with the hauntingly beautiful sketches that Sendak originally created for a 1997 opera adaptation of the tale. The project was initiated by the Maurice Sendak Foundation, which saw King as the perfect author to complement Sendak’s eerie and evocative illustrations.
A Match Made in Literary Horror Heaven
Stephen King, the iconic writer behind The Shining, Carrie, and countless other horror classics, wasn’t immediately on board with the project. But when he laid eyes on Sendak’s artwork, something clicked.
“Two of his pictures in particular spoke to me,” King recalled in a statement released through HarperCollins. “One was of the wicked witch on her broom with a bag of kidnapped children riding behind her; the other was of the infamous candy house becoming a terrible face. I thought, ‘This is what the house really looks like, a devil sick with sin, and it only shows that face when the kids turn their backs. I wanted to write that!’”
King's passion for eerie and unsettling narratives fits perfectly with the essence of Hansel and Gretel—a tale that, at its core, is about courage, deception, and survival. “To me, it was the essence of this story and, really, all fairy tales: a sunny exterior, a dark and terrible center, brave and resourceful children. In a way, I have been writing about kids like Hansel and Gretel for much of my life.”
Maurice Sendak’s Vision of Hansel and Gretel
Maurice Sendak, known for his timeless classics like Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen, had long been fascinated by Hansel and Gretel. While working on the opera adaptation in the late 1990s, he poured his talent into creating a set of illustrations that captured the raw, nightmarish essence of the story.
In a 2003 interview published in The Art of Maurice Sendak, he described Hansel and Gretel as “the most profound” of the Grimm fairy tales. “Generally speaking, most of Grimm is about heroic children. Hansel and Gretel are the most heroic of them all,” Sendak said. “It’s the toughest story in the world, and people are afraid of it, yet it’s famous because it’s so truthful.”
The Perfect Horror Duo
It’s no surprise that the Maurice Sendak Foundation saw King as the ideal storyteller to bring this new vision of Hansel and Gretel to life. Lynn Caponera, the foundation’s executive director, praised the choice, stating that outside of the Grimm Brothers themselves, “he’s the master of scary stories and a wonderful writer to boot.”
This pairing of King’s chilling prose with Sendak’s unsettling yet mesmerizing illustrations is bound to make for an unforgettable reading experience. The combination of King’s mastery of suspense and Sendak’s gift for visual storytelling promises to give readers—both longtime fans of horror and newcomers alike—a fresh and frightening journey through the deep, dark woods.
A Darker Take on a Familiar Tale
Fairy tales have always had an undercurrent of darkness, and Hansel and Gretel is no exception. A story of abandonment, starvation, and survival against a malevolent force, it has terrified and fascinated readers for generations. In this version, King and Sendak amplify the sinister elements lurking beneath the surface, ensuring that readers see the tale in a new and terrifying light.
It’s intriguing to consider how King’s storytelling will reshape the familiar narrative. Will the witch’s house be even more monstrous? Will Hansel and Gretel’s cunning take on an even sharper edge? With King at the helm, fans can expect a version that dives deeper into the psychological horror of being lost in the woods—with something much worse than hunger waiting for you.
A Collaboration That Almost Never Was
While their names now appear together on this highly anticipated release, King and Sendak never actually collaborated in person. In fact, representatives for King have stated that he has no recollection of ever meeting Sendak. However, King has expressed admiration for Sendak’s work, particularly the musical Really Rosie, a collaboration between Sendak and singer-songwriter Carole King.
Despite their different genres, both authors have long explored the world of childhood fears. Sendak often depicted childhood in its rawest form, showing the blend of wonder and terror that defines so many youthful experiences. King, meanwhile, has made a career of exposing the vulnerabilities and strengths of children, often placing them in supernatural or psychologically harrowing situations. Together, they form a duo that may seem unlikely at first but makes perfect sense upon closer examination.
Mark Your Calendars!
This September, readers will have the chance to see how two of literature’s most distinctive voices intertwine in this fresh, haunting take on Hansel and Gretel. Whether you grew up devouring fairy tales, reading Where the Wild Things Are, or staying up all night with a Stephen King novel in your hands, this book is sure to be a must-read.
Expect a story that’s both familiar and brand new—one that honors the chilling essence of the original fairy tale while adding layers of psychological depth and horror. With King’s ability to craft suspense and Sendak’s eerie illustrations capturing the nightmarish world of Hansel and Gretel, this book is bound to be an unforgettable addition to both their legacies.
Are you ready to get lost in the woods? Brace yourself—because this version of Hansel and Gretel isn’t the bedtime story you remember. It’s something much, much darker.
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