ANDERSEN, Hans Christian (1805 - 1875)

Born in Odense, Denmark to a poor cobbler, Hans Christian Andersen left home at the
age of 14 to seek fame and fortune in the city of Copenhagen. After attending a
grammar school, and then Copenhagen University, Andersen's writings began
appearing. His early work included poetry, novels, and plays that showed the
influence of the romantic styles of Sir Walter Scott and E.T.A. Hoffman. But,
Andersen is best known for his collection of children's fairy tales, which, over
the years, have been translated into hundreds of languages. These include such
memorable classics as The Red Shoes, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor's New
Clothes.

Literature: Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen [selected titles] (1872).