Born on April 2, 1805
Died on August 4, 1875
Hans Christian Andersen was an actor, poet and a well beloved Dutch author.
Andersen wrote many fairy tales and poems during his lifetime. Two of his most popular faity tales inlcude
The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling. Some of Andersen's other work include fairy tales such as Thumbelina,
The Princess and the Pea and The Emporer's New Clothes. Andersen has written a total of 168 fairy tales.
Many of Andersen's stories end in happiness but the characters face conflict and suffering throught out the
story. Andersen's work is well known to both children and adults.
"I seize on an idea for grown-ups and then
tell
the story to the little ones while always
remembering that Father and Mother often
listen, and you must also give them something
for their minds." (2003)
One of the reasons I picked Andersen as my author is because of my love
for his fairy tale The Little Mermaid that I have loved since I was a kid.
Andersen was born on April 2nd
in 1805 in Odense, Denmark to Anne Marie Andersdatter and Hans Andersen. Andersen had a half-sister Karen Marie. He
was contacted only a few times by his sister before she died in 1846. The Andersen family was a very poor family.
Andersen's mother worked as a washerwoman and his father was a shoemaker. The family lived in a single room
house where there was always food on the table but never quite enough and definitely didn't have enough money
to send Andersen to get an education. Andersen spent most of his childhood making costumes for his puppet
theatre and hanging out at the local theatre hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the plays that would often pass through town.
Andersen was also picked on a lot as a child, as his awkward height would be at the blunt of the jokes. Andersen
had a very detailed and vivid imagination. Andersen started writing at a very early age. His dreams as a child
were to someday become a singer, dancer and actor. In 1816 at the age of 11 Andersen's father died. Andersen
was forced to work at the age of 14, so his dreams of becoming a singer, dancer and actor came very quickly.
Andersen had a beautiful soprano voice but this dream was short lived after puberty set in.
Andersen's mother was one
of the main influences on his writing as she introduced him to the world of folklore. Sadly, Andersen's mother
battled alcoholism and died in 1833. Andersen often depicted his mother in his tales as she was a great influence
on his writing. Andersen's father was had an influence as he would take Andersen to plays and the theatre whenever possible.
Andersen's grandmother worked in a insane asylum, and in the spinning room of the asylum an elderly woman would tell Andersen
Danish folklore while he waited for his grandmother.
With the help of a grant and
his good friend Andersen was able to attend Copenhagen University where he completed his education. In 1835, Andersen's
first collection of fairy tales were published in a book titled Fairy Tales, Told for Children.
Andersen died of liver cancer
on August 4, 1875. Andersen is quite often called the Father of Fairy Tales. Andersen's work is enjoyed to this
day by all ages.
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). Find a grave memorial.
Merriman C.D. (2006). Hans christian andersen. The literature network.
Windling, T. (2003), Hans christian andersen: father of the modern fairy tales.
Realms of fantasy.
Mylius, J.D. (2000). Hans christian andersen. A collection of the world's fairy
tales.
Soylent communication. (2008). Hans christian andersen.
