Author News

200 YEAR CELEBRATION

2005 is the 200^th anniversary of the birth of the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. Numerous celebrations are planned throughout Denmark and the world.

HIS LIFE

Hans Christian Andersen was born April 2, 1805 in Odense , Denmark. He was the son of a poor shoemaker and a mother who worked as a washerwoman. He attended the city school for poor children. At age 11, he had to leave school and go to work when his father died.

Hans Christian Andersen’s father loved literature and often took him to the playhouse. His mother, who was uneducated and superstitious, opened the world of folklore to her son. Both of his parents encouraged Hans to compose his own fairy tales and arrange puppet theatre shows.

At the age of 14, Hans left Odense to move to Copenhagen to begin a career as a singer, dancer, or an actor. He succeeded in becoming associated with the Royal Theater because he had a beautiful singing voice but had to leave when his voice began to change.

photo by S. Brantly

In 1822 with the help of Jonas Collins from the Royal Theater, Hans was admitted to the grammar school at Slagelse. It was a very difficult time for Hans since he was 6 years older than most of the boys attending the school.

Jonas Collins helped him raise tuition to complete his education at Copenhagen University in 1827.

Hans Christian Andersen never married although he was in love with 3 women during his lifetime.

His fame came from the fairy tales and stories that he created and wrote down between 1835 and 1872.

Hans Christian Andersen died at his home in Rolighed on August 4, 1875.

PAPERCUTTING

Hans Christian Andersen used to enjoy entertaining the children of friends with stories and songs. While telling the stories he used to make paper cuttings from simple to very elaborate as he was talking. Over 1000 paper cuts have survived as a reminder of his time with children.

FAIRY TALES

Hans started his writing career creating plays and novels. But his fame would come from the many fairy tales that he wrote. His plays and novels have been forgotten but his fairy tales have lived on. Andersen started writing his fairy tales in 1835. Some of them are based on his own life and the fact that he was made fun of because he had a long nose and close-set eyes. In his fairy tales ugliness of the hero or heroine often conceal great beauty, which is revealed after misfortunes. He used style and content in new and different ways.

Hans Christian Andersen wrote 168 fairy tales in his lifetime. Some of the more popular include:

1835	Little Tiny or Thumbelina
1836	The Little Mermaid
1837	The Emperor’s New Suit
1844	The Ugly Duckling
1845	The Snow Queen
1859	The Story of the Wind