Andersen

Hans Christian was born in Odense, Denmark on the 2nd Apfril 1805, from Hans Andersen, a shoemaker, and Marie Andersdatter, a washerwoman. Determined to try the theatrical career, he goes to Copenhagen, where he writes his first drama. When he hardly finishes his study, he finally gives himself to letterary activity. From 1831 he travelled across the Europe, meeting, among others, Victor Hugo, Balzac and Alexandre Dumas. A Poet's Day Dreams is dedicated to Charles Dickens, who met in London in 1847. As a novelist Andersen made his breakthrough with The Improvisatore (1835), using Italy as the setting. It tells the autobiographical story of a poor boy and his integration into society. However, Andersen's fame rests on his Fairy Tales and Stories, written between 1835 and 1872. Among Andersen's other best known fairy tales are: 'The Ugly Duckling', 'Princess And The Pea', 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier', 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Emperor's New Clothes', 'The Little Match Girl'... In between the years 1840 and 1857 Andersen travelled across the Europe, Asia Minor, and Africa, recording his impressions and adventures in a number of travel books. Andersen died in his house in Rolighed on August 4th, 1875.