Hans Christian Andersen

1867 photograph by Thora Hallager

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) wrote poems, plays, novels, travelogues, and more, but he is most definitely best remembered for his fairy tales. Originally written in his native Danish, his stories have been translated into over 125 languages, and many have become part of our everyday vernacular. His stories frequently deal with great resilience in the face of great adversity, and many should only be read if you never want to be happy again.


"The Snow Queen"
In which a young girl travels afar to save her friend — recently turned cold a cruel by shards of a magic mirror — from the palace of the Snow Queen.

• First to Third Stories
• Fourth to Seventh Stories

"The Little Mermaid"
In which a young mermaid completely changes who she is to try and win the love of a prince she barely knows, and thereby gain an immortal soul, and ultimately learns the nobility of suffering, and in which the sea witch really tells it like it is.