Tales from Hans Christian Andersen: A Selection by Renowned Authors · He Reads

Author: Hans Christian Andersen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Translation by renowned scholars, introduction by experts, and a free CD of story readings included with the book. Let us remember the 200-year-old Andersen! Two hundred years ago, in the small town of Odense in central Denmark, a frail boy was born into a poor cobbler's family. Two hundred years later, children of all colors from around the world continue to cherish his timeless fairy tales. He is Hans Christian Andersen, an immortal monument and an ageless legend in the history of children's literature.
Hans Christian Andersen was a famous Danish fairy tale writer and the founder of world literary fairy tales. Born into a poor cobbler family in Odense, he attended a charitable school in his early years and worked as an apprentice. Influenced by his father and folk oral literature, he developed a deep love for literature from a young age. At the age of 11, his father passed away, and his mother remarried. To pursue his artistic dreams, he traveled alone to Copenhagen, the capital, at the age of 14. After eight years of struggle, he finally showed his talent in the poetic drama Alfsol, earning a scholarship to study at Slagelse Grammar School and Helsing?r School for five years. In 1828, he enrolled at the University of Copenhagen. After graduation, he struggled to find a job and relied mainly on his earnings from writing. In 1838, he received a writer's stipend, receiving 200 crowns annually from the state as a non-official allowance.
Andersen never married and passed away on August 4, 1875, at the home of his friend, the merchant Michael Joachim. His literary career began in 1822. In his early years, he primarily wrote poetry and plays. After entering university, his work matured, and he published travelogues, operettas, poetry collections, and poetic dramas. In 1833, he released the novel The Improvisatore, which earned him international acclaim and is considered a masterpiece of his adult literature. "For the sake of future generations," Andersen decided to write fairy tales for children and published Stories for Children. For the following years, he released a collection of such fairy tales every Christmas. He continued to publish new works until 1872, when he gradually stopped writing due to cancer. Over nearly 40 years, he wrote a total of 168 fairy tales.
Andersen's fairy tales possess a unique artistic style characterized by poetic beauty and comic humor. The former is the dominant style, often seen in celebratory tales, while the latter is more prominent in satirical works. His creative career can be divided into three periods: early, middle, and late.
In his early period, his fairy tales were filled with fantastical imagination and an optimistic spirit, reflecting a blend of realism and romanticism. Notable works include The Tinderbox, Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Little Sea Horse, The Wild Swans, and The Ugly Duckling.
In his middle period, the fantastical elements diminished, and the realistic ones became relatively stronger. His tales criticized evil and praised kindness, expressing an unwavering pursuit of a better life while also revealing a sense of melancholy and lack of confidence. Representative works include The Little Match Girl, The Snow Queen, The Shadow, A Drop of Water, The Mother's Tale, and The Puppet Master.
In his late period, his fairy tales became even more grounded in reality, focusing on the suffering of the lower classes and exposing the cold, dark, and unfair aspects of society. The tone of his works grew somber. Notable works include Dream Under the Willow Tree, She Is a Waste, The Bachelor's Nightcap, and Belle of the Fortunes.