Hans Christian Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) was a Danish writer and poet, born in Odense. He is regarded as one of the major authors of world literature. At the age of 14, he moved to Copenhagen, initially hoping to work at the theater as an actor, singer, or dancer. After these attempts proved unsuccessful, he increasingly devoted himself to writing. From 1835 onward, he published numerous fairy tales, including “The Little Mermaid,” “The Snow Queen,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and “The Little Match Girl.” In total, he wrote more than 150 fairy tales, as well as novels, poems, plays, and travel writing. His journeys through Europe influenced his literary work. Andersen received state support during his lifetime and was widely honored in Denmark.