Then I received another letter from a library staff member inviting me, again, to take part in this program that recognizes my achievement through the selection of the book. The letter said that I can select any book that is meaningful to me, anything from a children's book to a treatise. It also asked me to tell, in 50 words or less, why I choose the book that I did; what significance it has to me.
I thought about the suggestion.
The book that came to mind happened to be indeed a children's one. The timeless classic by Hans Christian Andersen. "The Ugly Duckling."
The UIUC library catalog gives it the following brief summary: "An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year excluded by the other animals before he grows into a beautiful swan."
It seems to be hard to convey in 50 words much of my feeling in regard to this masterpiece. I thought maybe just a bit more elaborate description of the book, maybe just a few short passages, a few examples of the eternal truth formulated by the grand master of children's storytelling could be worthwhile presenting here. Especially if the book is to commemorate such a significant milestone in my very own professional career.
Since the early childhood my memory retained a couple of noteworthy quotes from the story. (The part below is a translation from the Danish by Anthea Bell.)
So the duckling stayed for three weeks to show what he could do,
but he didn't lay any eggs. The cat was the master of the house, the hen was its mistress,
and they were always saying: "We and the world," because they really believed they were half
the whole world, and the better half too. The duckling thought there could be another
opinion about that, but the hen did not agree.
"Can you lay eggs?" she asked.
"No."
"In that case you'd better keep quiet!"
And the cat said, "Can you arch your back and purr, and give off sparks?"
"No."
"Then you ought not to speak up when sensible folk are talking!"
So the duckling sat in a corner feeling cross. He began thinking
of the fresh air and the sunlight, and he longed to fly over the water so much [...]
"You don't understand me!" said the duckling.
"Well, if we don't understand you, who will?
You surely don't claim to be cleverer than the cat and the old woman,
not to mention me? Don't be silly, child. And thank your
Creator for all the kindness you've been shown! Haven't
you found a warm room here, and companions who can teach you
something? [...] Believe me, I mean you well, and I'm telling you
these home truths for your own good, which is how you can tell
I'm a real friend. So you'd better see about laying eggs,
or purring and giving off sparks."
This story has made an impression on me. I have not purred since.
Den Grimme Aelling, the Danish original of the story at the H. C. Andersen archive.
Image copyright byRobert Ingpen.
Translated from the Danish by Anthea Bell.