Tales from Hans Christian Andersen: A Masterpiece Selection (Excluding CD)

Author: (Dan) Hans Christian Andersen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Translated by renowned scholars, introduced by experts, and narrated by celebrated voices—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 came to the capital, Copenhagen, alone at the age of 14. After eight years of struggle, he finally showcased his talent in the poetic drama Alf. As a result, the Royal Danish Theatre sent him to the Slagelse Venlig Skole and Helsing?r Skole for free education, which lasted 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 the Writers' Prize, which granted him an annual state allowance of 200 Danish rigsdaler as a non-official stipend.
Andersen remained unmarried throughout his life and passed away on August 4, 1875, at the home of his friend, the merchant Michael Pedersen.
Andersen's literary career began in 1822. In his early years, he primarily wrote poetry and plays. After entering university, his writing 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 became a masterpiece of his adult literature. "For the sake of future generations," Andersen decided to write fairy tales for children and published Stories Told to 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: poetic beauty and comic humor. The former is the dominant style, often seen in celebratory tales, while the latter is more prominent in satirical ones.
Andersen's creative career can be divided into three periods: early, middle, and late. Early fairy tales are filled with fantastical imagination and an optimistic spirit, reflecting a blend of realism and romanticism. Representative works include The Tinderbox, Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, The Sea Horse, The Wild Swans, and The Ugly Duckling. In the middle period, the fantastical elements decrease, while the realistic ones increase. These tales criticize evil and praise kindness, showcasing an unwavering pursuit of a better life, yet also reveal a sense of melancholy and lack of confidence. Notable works include The Little Match Girl, The Snow Queen, The Shadow, A Drop of Water, The Mother's Tale, and The Puppet Master. Late fairy tales are 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 these works is somber. Representative works include Dream Under the Willow Tree, She Is a Waste, The Bachelor's Nightcap, and Belle of the Fortunes.