Andersen, Hans Christian

Andersen, Hans Christian (1805-75), Danish writer. He was the only child of a poor shoemaker who died when Hans was eleven.

After working in a factory, Hans tried to become an actor. He could not get a job in a theater. So he decided to go to school.

At this time, poor scholars could obtain money from the King, and friends of Hans got some money for him. Soon he began to write poems, novels and plays but, at first, he was not a success.

Then, in 1835, he wrote four fairy tales and at once his fortune changed. He wrote more fairy tales and his fame spread all over Europe.

People everywhere were delighted by stories like The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Tin Soldier and The Red Shoes.

Hans lived to be an old man who was greatly loved by the people of Denmark and now his fairy tales have been translated into most of the languages of the world.

See E. MEYNELL Story of Hans Andersen