Hans Brinker and his sister have many troubles, being poor and seemingly fatherless. They are still hopeful, however, and they try to treat everyone with fairness. Their father had an accident years ago when his daughter was just a baby. Ever since, he has been ill and mindless.
The siblings prepare to enter a skating competition with the other children. They have little chance of doing well on their handmade wooden skates, but the prospect of the race and the prize of the silver skates excite them and fire their dreams. The troubles they face, and how they overcome them, is beautifully narrated in the book ‘Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates’.
It was written by Mary Mapes Dodge and first published in 1865. The novel takes place in the Netherlands. The book’s title refers to the beautiful silver skates to be awarded to the winner of the ice-skating race.
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