NPR’s Book of the Day: “Hiddensee” by Gregory Maguire

Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Lulu Garcia Navarro
Guest: Gregory Maguire (Author of "Wicked" and "Hiddensee")

Episode Overview

This special holiday episode delves into Gregory Maguire’s novel “Hiddensee”—a reimagining of the backstory to “The Nutcracker,” focusing on the mysterious toymaker, Godfather Drosselmeyer. Host Lulu Garcia Navarro speaks to Maguire about the enduring power of fairy tales, the darkness underpinning childhood stories, and why recapturing childhood wonder can guide us through adult hardships. The conversation offers insights for lovers of old stories seen anew and explores why fairy tales aren’t just for children.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Encountering “The Nutcracker”

• Maguire’s Introduction to the Tale
  • [01:57] Maguire recalls experiencing “The Nutcracker” ballet live at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, vividly remembering the spectacle:

    “That scene where the Christmas tree grows 40, 50, 60ft high… one of the most magical transformations I've ever seen on the stage, even if the rest of the story seemed to me demented.”
    (Gregory Maguire, 02:10)

  • He criticizes the ballet’s structure: Act One as strong, dramatic fairy tale; Act Two as disconnected pageant.

    “It's as if we're sitting in an overstuffed living room looking at the photographs of our grandparents’ trip around the world. It has nothing to do with the great drama of Act One.”
    (Gregory Maguire, 02:42)

Reimagining Drosselmeyer: The Backstory

• Why Drosselmeyer?

  • Maguire’s novel explores what shaped the enigmatic gift-giver.

    “Dirk Drosselmeier is a foundling, or that's what he's told. And he lives in the Bavarian forest… about 1800 or so… right at the heart of the German fairy tale.”
    (Gregory Maguire, 03:20)

  • Drosselmeyer grows up amid the real and fantastical influences of early-19th-century Germany—alongside the Brothers Grimm and an emerging tradition of romantic fairy tales.

• Character Details

  • Maguire infuses depth into details only hinted at in the ballet:

    “The only thing we know about Godfather Drosselmeyer from the stage is that he’s tall and leering and a little menacing and a little helpful, and he's got this eyepatch. So my job as a novelist is to say, that’s not just a throwaway eyepatch. That eyepatch has some meaning.”
    (Gregory Maguire, 04:26)

Fairy Tales as Adult Consolation

• Role of Fairy Tales for Adults

  • Maguire and Navarro discuss the timeless human need for stories:

    “We seem to need both to stare with unblinking eyes at the reality of the hard world in which we live. And we also seem to need the comfort of those tales that we got when we were children… If we remember the magic of our childhoods, we might be able to find in that the strength to carry on through our own hard and difficult adult lives.”
    (Gregory Maguire, 05:09 & 05:28)

• Stories as Therapy

  • Maguire quotes philosopher Roger Scruton:

    “The consolation of the imaginary is not imaginary consolation.”
    (Gregory Maguire, 05:51)

  • He frames his writing as a “grown up job” that provides true solace, not just escapism.

Power, Margins, and Small Acts

• Shifting Power Dynamics
  • Navarro observes: Drosselmeyer is powerful in the ballet, but Maguire’s book strips him of that, making him “the least powerful character in many ways.”
    • Maguire responds:

      “Sometimes it’s the people on the margins of society who have the most to do to pick up and placate those who really need the help. It’s kindergarten teachers who are the ones who really catch the scowl of worry... and do something useful for that human soul. And I think Drosselmeyer is one of those characters.”
      (Gregory Maguire, 06:36)

Family, Traditions & Personal Connection

• Maguire’s Family and Nutcracker Traditions
  • He shares a family ritual:

    “I have 40 nutcrackers in the basement. They live in plastic crates. And just about now we haul the crates out… and line the staircase… large and small. They are an army of stern and scowling and bearded defenders of some faith or other. We're not sure we can name the faith, but we're glad they're there.”
    (Gregory Maguire, 07:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the disconnect between Acts of The Nutcracker:

  “It’s crazy. It’s broken. It doesn’t make any sense.”
  (Gregory Maguire, 02:23)

• On giving meaning to minor details:

  “That eyepatch has some meaning. How did he get to need it? And what does that say about his character?”
  (Gregory Maguire, 04:26)

• On the blend of childhood magic and adult hardship:

  “If we remember the magic of our childhoods, we might be able to find in that the strength to carry on through our own hard and difficult adult lives.”
  (Gregory Maguire, 05:28)

• On the value of consoling stories for adults:

  “The consolation of the imaginary is not imaginary consolation.”
  (Roger Scruton quote via Gregory Maguire, 05:51)

• On marginalized helpers:

  “It’s kindergarten teachers… who really catch the scowl of worry on the brow of one of their charges… and do something useful for that human soul.”
  (Gregory Maguire, 06:41)

• On family rituals:

  “We line the staircase with nutcrackers, large and small… an army of stern and scowling and bearded defenders of some faith or other.”
  (Gregory Maguire, 07:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:57] Gregory Maguire recounts seeing “The Nutcracker” and its magical impact
• [03:18] Explaining Drosselmeyer’s backstory in “Hiddensee”
• [04:15] Discussing the importance and symbolism of Drosselmeyer’s eyepatch
• [05:04] On the darkness of the real world and the need for fairy tales
• [05:51] Maguire shares the Roger Scruton quote
• [06:36] The power of marginalized characters to offer meaningful help
• [07:24] Personal family traditions with nutcrackers

Episode Tone

Engaging, reflective, lightly whimsical, and insightful; the conversation blends literary curiosity with warmth, exploring why and how old stories still matter for grown-ups.

This summary covers the core themes, narrative insights, and personal touches from Maguire, providing a rich overview for listeners and readers new to “Hiddensee”, “The Nutcracker”, or Maguire’s work.