Andersen's Fairy Tales

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) was born in Odense, Denmark, the son of a poor shoemaker and a washerwoman. As a young teenager, he became well known in Odense as a reciter of drama and a singer. When he was fourteen, he moved to Copenhagen, determined to achieve national success on the stage. He failed miserably but made influential friends who helped him attend school to improve his education. He disliked school, finding himself in a class with twelve-year-olds at age seventeen and facing constant mockery from his peers and teachers.

In 1829, his first book, an account of a walking trip, was published, followed by regular releases of subsequent books. Initially, he valued his adult works over his fantasies. However, later in life, he realized these seemingly simple stories could vividly and charmingly depict enduring aspects of human life and character. This realization led him to stop viewing his stories as mere trifles for children and to focus on writing more original tales rather than retelling traditional ones.

Andersen once stated that story ideas “lie in my mind like seeds and only need the kiss of a sunbeam or a drop of malice to flower.” He often thinly disguised people he liked or disliked as characters in his stories. For instance, a woman who rejected his affections became the foolish prince in “The Little Mermaid,” while his own feelings of ugliness and humiliation, or his father’s daydreams of noble ancestry, are reflected in “The Ugly Duckling.”

Hans Andersen’s stories began to be translated into English as early as 1846. Since then, numerous editions, Hollywood songs, and two Disney cartoons, Frozen and The Little Mermaid, have contributed to the ongoing popularity of his stories in the English-speaking world.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.