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No Sugar Plums Here: The Dark, Romantic Roots Of 'The Nutcracker'

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E.T.A. Hoffmann's original story, "Nutcracker and Mouse King," is darker and spookier than the ballet version most people know.

Credit Courtesy of Crown

Maurice Sendak worked on a version of The Nutcracker for the Pacific Northwest Ballet in 1983, and put out a book in 1984. He described Hoffmann's story as having "bite and muscle, the way the Grimm fairy tales do."

By NPR Staff

Originally published on Tue December 25, 2012 3:20 pm

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This is the time of year when one man's work is widely — if indirectly — celebrated. His name used to be hugely famous, but nowadays, it draws blank stares, even from people who know that work. We're speaking about E.T.A. Hoffmann, original author of The Nutcracker.

6:27 am

Tue December 25, 2012

Is Santa's Sleigh Powered By Caribou?

Originally published on Tue December 25, 2012 8:42 am

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DAVID GREENE, HOST:

6:19 am

Tue December 25, 2012

Santa Amazes Deaf Boy's Mother

Originally published on Tue December 25, 2012 8:42 am

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DAVID GREENE, HOST:

3:53 am

Tue December 25, 2012

U.S. Military Builds Up Its Presence In Africa

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Credit AP

Gen. Carter Ham is head of the U.S. African command. An Army brigade from Fort Riley, Kan., will begin helping train African militaries beat back a growing terrorist threat posed by al-Qaida.

Credit AP

By Tom Bowman

Originally published on Wed December 26, 2012 6:22 am

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An Army brigade from Fort Riley, Kan., some 4,000, soldiers, will begin helping to train African militaries. The idea is to help African troops beat back a growing terrorist threat posed by al-Qaida.

The American troops will head over in small teams over the course of the next year. The Dagger Brigade returned to Kansas last year from a deployment to Iraq, where it trained and advised that country's security forces.

3:14 am

Tue December 25, 2012

Dig Finds Evidence Of Pre-Jesus Bethlehem

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The Israel Antiquities Authority says archeologists have found the oldest artifact that bears the inscription of Bethlehem, a 2,700-year-old clay seal with the name of Jesus' traditional birthplace.

Originally published on Wed December 26, 2012 6:13 am

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Thousands of Christian pilgrims streamed into Bethlehem Monday night to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It's the major event of the year in that West Bank town. But Israeli archaeologists now say there is strong evidence that Christ was born in a different Bethlehem, a small village in the Galilee.

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9:41 am

Tue December 25, 2012