Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author and poet most famous
for his fairy tales. He was born in a one-room house in the slums
of Odense, Denmark, on April 2, 1805. His early life was full of
great sadness.
His father, Hans Andersen, was a poor shoemaker would read him a story every day at 2:00 pm. His mother, Anne Marie Andersdatter, worked as washerwoman. Although she was uneducated, she opened for her son the world of folklore.
His father died when he was 11 years old. When he was the age of 14,
he ran away to Copenhagen. He became an artist, a singer and an
actor, but he was not a success at first. He grew even poorer and
almost died of hunger. Thanks to the help of a patron of the arts,
the director of the Royal Theatre, Andersen went to University in
Copenhagen and began his writing.
Andersen was Denmark's most famous author. He wrote as many as 350 stories. His books are read all over the world.
All of the stories Andersen wrote were with a great desire to make children laugh. He also wrote because he didn't want children to have a sad childhood as he did. Some of his most famous stories include: The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, The Snow Queen, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Thumbelina and The Ugly Duckling.
Hans Christian Andersen was tall and skinny with a big nose. He
always thought that he was very ugly, and it was this self-view that
inspired The Ugly Duckling.
His stories show compassion for those who are outcast and suffering. They also make fun of the spoiled and conceited. His stories teach us that appearances can be deceiving, and that there is a magical beauty even within the most unlikely characters.
Hans Andersen died on August 4, 1875. Denmark's people always celebrate his birthday with a party called "Odin Story Day". The Andersen home in Odense is now a museum, and thousand of people visit it every year.
Hans Christian Andersen and his stories are remembered and loved today just as much as when he was alive.
