Where did the Andersen live? Hans Christian Andersen is a great, lonely and strange storyteller. Where did Hans Christian Andersen live?

Hans Christian Andersen (in Russia the name Hans Christian is more common; April 2, 1805, Odense, Danish-Norwegian Union - August 4, 1875, Copenhagen, Denmark) - the famous Danish prose writer and poet, author of world-famous fairy tales (more than 150 in total) for children and adults.

Andersen was born on April 2, 1805 into a poor family of a shoemaker and laundress. However, in his early biography, he mentioned more than once that as a child he had to play with the Danish Prince Frits himself, who eventually became King Frederick VII. This fantasy "launched" the legend of his royal origin.

From early childhood, the future writer showed a great propensity for daydreaming and a violent imagination. He repeatedly made impromptu home performances in the house, played out various scenes that caused laughter and mockery from his peers. Puppet theater became his favorite hobby.

From the age of 11, he was forced to work - first as an apprentice at a weaver, then as a tailor's assistant and a worker at a cigarette factory ...

Already at the age of 14, the boy went to the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. Letting him go so far, his mother really hoped that he would soon return back. Leaving his home, Hans Christian made a statement: "I'm going there to become famous!" He wanted to find a job to his liking, that is, in the theater, which he liked so much and which he loved very much.

At the Royal Theatre, he served on the supporting roles for a very short time, he did not achieve success, and with age-related brittleness of his voice, he was soon fired altogether ...

However, he was given a chance and offered to study. Because he had a very strong desire to prove himself extraordinary ... People who sympathized with the poor teenager sent a request to the King of Denmark himself, in which they asked to allow the teenager to study. And Andersen received permission to study at the school at the expense of the state treasury ...

But science at school was not easy for Andersen: he was 5-6 years older than most of the students and was very complex about this. After that, he will write about the years spent within the walls of the school, that it was the darkest time in his life ...

Having completed his studies in 1827, he was never able to master spelling, and until the end of his days he made grammatical errors in writing ...

The peak of Andersen's creative activity and popularity fell on the 30-40s of the 19th century. It was at this time that his fairy tales appeared, which immediately made him famous.

Major works

The most famous fairy tales for children and adults

• "Thumbelina" (1835)
• "Flint" (1835)
• "The Princess and the Pea" (1835)
• "The King's New Clothes" (1837)
• "The Little Mermaid" (1837)
• "Wild Swans" (1838)
• "Galoshes of happiness" (1838)
• "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" (1838)
• "Ole Lukoye" (1841)
• "Swineherd" (1841)
• "The Ugly Duckling" (1843)
• "Nightingale" (1843)
• "Elder Mother" (1844)
• "The Snow Queen" (1844)
• "Shepherdess and Chimney Sweep" (1845)
• "Little Took" (1847)
• "Shadow" (1847)
• "Everyone know your place!" ("Everything has its place") (1852)
• Piggy Bank (1854)
• Sausage Stick Soup (1858)
• "In the poultry yard" (1861)
• "Golden Boy" (1865)

Novels and novels

• "Improviser" (1835)
• "Just a violinist" (1837)
• "Invisible Pictures" (collection of 33 short stories, 1840s)
• "Lucky Petka" (1870)

Andersen becomes a famous writer, and famous not only in his own country, but also in European countries. In the summer of 1847, he was able to visit England for the first time, where he was met triumphantly ...

He continues to try to write plays, novels, trying to become famous as a playwright and novelist. At the same time, he hates his fairy tales, which brought him true fame. Nevertheless, fairy tales from his pen appear again and again. The last fairy tale he wrote appeared around Christmas 1872.

In his personal life, he was very lonely: he was never married and had no children of his own ...

In 1872, due to negligence, the writer fell and was badly injured. He never managed to recover from the injuries received during the fall, the disease progressed and developed into cancer. The famous storyteller died in the summer of 1875, on August 4. He was buried at the Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen...

Currently, the birthday of the great storyteller - April 2 - is annually celebrated as International Children's Book Day.

Photographs and lifetime portraits of Hans Christian Andersen

To view each image in full screen mode, click on its thumbnail!

The famous Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen was born on a fine spring day on April 2, 1805 in Odnes, which is located on the island of Funen. Andersen's parents were poor. Father Hans Andersen was a shoemaker, and mother Anna Marie Andersdatter worked as a laundress, and was also not from a noble family. From childhood, she lived in poverty, begging on the street, and after her death she was buried in a cemetery for the poor.

However, in Denmark there is a legend that Andersen was of royal origin, because in his early biography he mentioned more than once that as a child he had to play with the Danish Prince Frits himself, who eventually became King Federick VII .

According to Andersen's fantasy, their friendship with Prince Frits continued throughout life and until the death of Frits. After the death of the monarch, only relatives and he was admitted to the tomb of the late king ...

And Andersen gave rise to such fantasy thoughts, the stories of his father, as if he were some kind of relative of the king himself. From early childhood, the future writer showed a great propensity for daydreaming and a violent imagination. He repeatedly made impromptu home performances in the house, played out various scenes that caused laughter and mockery from his peers.

The year 1816 became difficult for the young Anders, his father died and he had to earn his own living. He began his working life as an apprentice at a weaver, after which he worked as a tailor's assistant. The boy's labor activity continued at the cigarette factory...

From early childhood, a boy with big blue eyes had a rather closed character, he always liked to sit somewhere in a corner and play puppet theater (his favorite game). He carried his love for the puppet theater in his soul throughout his life ...

From early childhood, Andersen was distinguished by emotionality, irascibility and arrogant susceptibility, which led to physical punishment in the schools of that time. Such reasons forced the boy's mother to send him to a Jewish school, where various kinds of executions were not practiced.

Therefore, Andersen forever kept in touch with the Jewish people, knew their traditions and culture very well. He even wrote several fairy tales and short stories on Jewish themes. But, unfortunately, they were not translated into Russian.

Youth

Already at the age of 14, the boy went to the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen. Letting him go so far, his mother really hoped that he would soon return back. Leaving his house, the boy made a kind of sensational statement, he said: "I'm going there to become famous!". He also wanted to find a job. She should be to his liking, that is, work in the theater, which he liked so much and which he loved very much.

He received funds for the trip on the recommendation of a man in whose house he often staged impromptu performances. The first year of life in Copenhagen did not advance the boy to the dream of working in the theater. He somehow came to the house of a famous (at that time) singer and, moved by feelings, began to ask her to help him get a job in the theater. To get rid of a strange and clumsy teenager, the lady promised to help him. But she never kept her promise. Many years later, she somehow confesses to him that at that moment she mistook him for a person whose mind was clouded ...

In those years, Hans Christian himself was a lanky, clumsy teenager with a long nose and thin limbs. In fact, he was an analogue of the Ugly Duckling. But he had a pleasant voice in which he expressed his requests, and whether for this reason, or simply out of pity, Hans was nevertheless accepted into the bosom of the Royal Theater, despite all his external defects. Unfortunately, he was given supporting roles. He did not achieve success in the theater, and with a brittle voice (age), he was soon fired altogether ...

But Andersen at that time was already composing a play that had five acts. He wrote a petition letter to the king, in which he convincingly asked the monarch to give money for the publication of his work. The book also included poems by the writer. Hans did everything to buy the book, that is, he carried out advertising campaigns in the newspaper, announcing the publication, but the expected sales did not follow. But he did not want to give up and took his book to the theater, hoping to put on a performance based on his play. But here, too, failure awaited him. He was refused, motivating the refusal by the complete lack of professional experience of the author ...

However, he was given a chance and offered to study. Because he had a very strong desire to prove himself extraordinary ...

People who sympathized with the poor teenager sent a request to the King of Denmark himself, in which they asked to allow the teenager to study. And “His Majesty” listened to the requests, allowing Hans to study at school, first in the city of Slagels, and then in the city of Elsinore, and at the expense of the state treasury ...

This turn of events, by the way, suited the talented teenager, because now he did not need to think about how to earn a living. But science at school was not easy for Andersen, firstly, he was much older than the students with whom he studied, and experienced some discomfort about this. Also, he was constantly subjected to merciless criticism from the rector of the educational institution, about which he was too worried .... Very often he saw this man in his nightmares. After that, he will say about the years spent within the walls of the school, that it was the darkest time in his life ...

Having completed his studies in 1827, he was never able to master spelling, and until the end of his life he made grammatical errors in writing ...

In his personal life, he was also unlucky, he was never married and had no children of his own ...

Creation

The first success for the writer was brought by a fantastic story called "Hiking Journey from the Holmen Canal to the Eastern End of Amager", which was published in 1833. For this work, the writer received a reward (from the king), which allowed him to travel abroad, which he so dreamed of ...

This fact became an impromptu launch pad for Anderson, and he began to write many different literary works (including the famous Tales, which made him famous). Once again, the writer makes an attempt to find himself on the stage in 1840, but the second attempt, like the first, does not bring him complete satisfaction ...

But on the other hand, in the writing field, he has some success, having published his collection called “A Book with Pictures without Pictures”. “Tales” also had a continuation, which in 1838 came out in the second edition, and in 1845 “Tales - 3” appeared ...

He becomes a famous writer, and famous not only in his own country, but also in European countries. In the summer of 1847, he was able to visit England for the first time, where he was met triumphantly ...

He continues to try to write plays, novels, trying to become famous as a playwright and novelist. At the same time, he hates his fairy tales, which brought him true fame. Nevertheless, fairy tales from his pen appear again and again. The last fairy tale he wrote appeared around Christmas 1872. In the same year, through negligence, the writer fell out of bed and was badly injured. He never managed to recover from the injuries received during the fall (although he lived after the fall for another three whole years). The famous storyteller died in the summer of 1875 on August 4. He was buried at the Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen...

Hans Christian Andersen (in many publications in Russian the name of the writer is indicated as Hans Christian, Dan. Hans Christian Andersen; April 2, 1805, Odense, Danish-Norwegian Union - August 4, 1875, Copenhagen, Denmark) - Danish prose writer and poet, author of world-famous fairy tales for children and adults: "The Ugly Duckling", "The King's New Dress", "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Princess and the Pea", "Ole Lukoye", "The Snow Queen" and many others.

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805 in Odense on the island of Funen. Andersen's father, Hans Andersen (1782-1816), was a poor shoemaker, and his mother Anna Marie Andersdatter (1775-1833) was a laundress from a poor family, she had to beg in her childhood, she was buried in a cemetery for the poor.

He grew up as a very subtly nervous child, emotional and receptive. At that time, physical punishment of children in schools was common, so the boy was afraid to go to school, and his mother sent him to a Jewish school, where physical punishment of children was prohibited.

At the age of 14, Hans went to Copenhagen; his mother let him go, because she hoped that he would stay there a little and come back. When she asked the reason why he was leaving her and the house, young Hans Christian immediately replied: "To become famous!"

Hans Christian was a lanky teenager with elongated and thin limbs, a neck and an equally long nose, and out of pity, Hans Christian, despite his ineffectual appearance, was accepted into the Royal Theater, where he played minor roles. He was offered to study because of the good attitude towards him, seeing his desire. Sympathetic to the poor and sensitive boy, people petitioned the King of Denmark, Frederick VI, who allowed him to study at a school in the town of Slagels, and then at another school in Elsinore at the expense of the treasury. The students at the school were 6 years younger than Andersen. He later recalled the years of study at school as the darkest time of his life, due to the fact that he was severely criticized by the rector of the educational institution and was painfully worried about this until the end of his days - he saw the rector in nightmares.

Andersen completed his studies in 1827. Until the end of his life, he made many grammatical errors in writing - Andersen never mastered the letter.

Andersen never married and had no children.

In 1829, Andersen published a fantastic story "Hiking from the Holmen canal to the eastern tip of Amager" brought fame to the writer. Andersen writes a large number of literary works, including in 1835 - "Tales" that glorified him. In the 1840s, Andersen tried to return to the stage, but without much success. At the same time, he confirmed his talent by publishing the collection "A Picture Book without Pictures".

In the second half of the 1840s and in the following years, Andersen continued to publish novels and plays, trying in vain to become famous as a playwright and novelist.

In 1872, Andersen fell out of bed, badly hurt himself and never recovered from his injuries, although he lived for another three years. He died on 4 August 1875 and is buried in the Assistance Cemetery in Copenhagen.

List of the most famous fairy tales:

Storks (Storkene, 1839)
Thumbelina, Wilhelm Pedersen, 1820-1859.
Godfather's Album (1868)
Angel (Engelen, 1843)
Anne Lisbeth (1859)
Grandmother (Bedstemoder, 1845)
Bloch and the Professor (Loppen og Professoren, 1872)
Will-o'-the-wisps in the city (Lygtemændene ere i Byen, sagde Mosekonen, 1865)
God Never Dies (Den gamle Gud lever endnu, 1836)
Great sea serpent (Den store Søslange, 1871)
Bronze boar (reality) (Metalsvinet, 1842)
Elder Mother (Hyldemoer, 1844)
Bottleneck (Flaskehalsen, 1857)
On the day of death (Paa den yderste Dag, 1852)
In the Nursery (I Børnestuen, 1865)
Cheerful disposition (Et godt Humeur, 1852)
The wind tells about Valdemar Do and his daughters (Vinden fortæller om Valdemar Daae og hans Døttre, 1859)
Windmill (Veirmøllen, 1865)
Magic Hill (Elverhøi, 1845)
Collar (Flipperne, 1847)
Everybody know your place! (Everything has its place) ("Alt paa sin rette Plads", 1852)
Van and Glen (Vænø og Glænø, 1867)
The ugly duckling (Den grimme Ælling, 1843)
Hans Chump (or Fool Hans) (Klods-Hans, 1855)
Buckwheat (Boghveden, 1841)
Two Brothers (To Brødre, 1859)
Two Maidens (To Jomfruer, 1853)
Twelve Passengers (Tolv med Posten, 1861)
Yard cock and weather vane (Gaardhanen og Veirhanen, 1859)
Ice Maiden (Iisjomfruen, 1861)
The Little Match Girl (Den lille Pige med Svovlstikkerne, 1845)
The girl who stepped on the bread (The girl who stepped on the bread) (Pigen, som traadte paa Brødet, 1859)
Moving Day (Flyttedagen, 1860)
Wild swans (De vilde Svaner, 1838)
Director of the puppet theater (Marionetspilleren, 1851)
Days of the Week (Ugedagene, 1868)
Brownie and hostess (Nissen og Madamen, 1867)
Small trader brownie (Nissen hos Spekhøkeren, 1852)
Roadmate (Reisekammeraten, 1835)
Marsh King's Daughter (Dynd-Kongens Datter, 1858)
Dryad (Dryaden, 1868)
Thumbelina (Tommelise, 1835)
Jewess (Jødepigen, 1855)
Spruce (Grantræet, 1844)
Bishop of Berglum and his Relatives (Bispen paa Børglum og hans Frænde, 1861)
There is a difference! ("Der Forskjel!", 1851)
Toad (Skrubtudsen, 1866)
Bride and Groom (Kjærestefolkene or Toppen og Bolden, 1843)
Green crumbs (De smaa Grønne, 1867)
Evil prince. Tradition (Den onde Fyrste, 1840)
Golden Boy (Guldskat, 1865)
And sometimes happiness is hidden in a pinch (Lykken kan ligge i en Pind, 1869)
Ib and Christine (Ib og lille Christine, 1855)
From the Window of the Almshouse (Fra et Vindue i Vartou, 1846)
True Truth (Det er ganske vist!, 1852)
History of the Year (Aarets Historie, 1852)
The Story of a Mother (Historien om en Moder, 1847)
How the Storm Outweighed the Signs (Stormen flytter Skilt, 1865)
How good! ("Deilig!", 1859)
Galoshes of happiness (Lykkens Kalosker, 1838)
Drop of Water (Vanddraaben, 1847)
Gate Key (Portnøglen, 1872)
Something (Noget, 1858)
Bell (Klokken, 1845)
Bell Pool (Klokkedybet, 1856)
Ole's bell watchman (Taarnvægteren Ole, 1859)
Comet (Kometen, 1869)
Red Shoes (De røde Skoe, 1845)
Who is the happiest? (Hvem var den Lykkeligste?, 1868)
Swan's Nest (Svanereden, 1852)
Flax (Hørren, 1848)
Little Claus and Big Claus (Lille Claus og store Claus, 1835)
Little Took (Lille Tuk, 1847)
Moth (Sommerfuglen, 1860)
The Muse of the New Age (Det nye Aarhundredes Musa, 1861)
On the Dunes (En Historie fra Klitterne, 1859)
At the Edge of the Sea (Ved det yderste Hav, 1854)
On a Child's Grave (Barnet i Graven, 1859)
In the poultry yard (I Andegaarden, 1861)
Dung beetle (Skarnbassen, 1861)
The Silent Book (Den stumme Bog, 1851)
Bad Boy (Den uartige Dreng, 1835)
The King's New Dress (Keiserens nye Klæder, 1837)
Old Bachelor's Nightcap (Pebersvendens Nathue, 1858)
What the old woman Johanna told about (Hvad gamle Johanne fortalte, 1872)
Fragment of a string of pearls (Et stykke Perlesnor, 1856)
Steel (Fyrtøiet, 1835)
Ole Lukøie (1841)
Offspring of a paradise plant (Et Blad fra Himlen, 1853)
Couple (Kærestefolkene, 1843)
Shepherdess and Chimney Sweep (Hyrdinden og Skorsteensfeieren, 1845)
Peiter, Peter and Per (Peiter, Peter og Peer, 1868)
Pen and Inkwell (Pen og Blækhuus, 1859)
Dance, doll, dance! (Dandse, dandse Dukke min! 1871)
Twin Cities (Venskabs-Pagten, 1842)
Under the Willow (Under Piletræet, 1852)
Snowdrop (Sommergjækken, 1862)
The Last Dream of the Old Oak (Det gamle Egetræes sidste Drøm, 1858)
The Last Pearl (Den sidste Perle, 1853)
Great-grandfather (Oldefa "er, 1870)
The Ancestors of Greta the Poultry Bird (Hønse-Grethes Familie, 1869)
The most beautiful rose in the world (Verdens deiligste Rose, 1851)
The Princess and the Pea (Prindsessen paa Ærten, 1835)
Lost ("Hun duede ikke", 1852)
Jumpers (Springfyrene, 1845)
Psyche (Psychen, 1861)
Folk Song Bird (Folkesangens Fugl, 1864)
Phoenix bird (Fugl Phønix, 1850)
Five from One Pod (Fem fra en Ærtebælg, 1852)
Garden of Eden (Paradisets Have, 1839)
Sunbeam Tales (Solskins-Historier, 1869)
Childish Chatter (Børnesnak, 1859)
Rose from Homer's Grave (En Rose fra Homers Grav, 1842)
Chamomile (Gaaseurten, 1838)
The Little Mermaid (Den lille Havfrue, 1837)
From the ramparts (Et Billede fra Castelsvolden, 1846)
The Gardener and the Gentlemen (Gartneren og Herskabet, 1872)
Tallow candle (Tællelyset, 1820s)
The Most Incredible (Det Utroligste, 1870)
Candles (Lysene, 1870)
Swineherd (Svinedrengen, 1841)
Piggy bank pig (Pengegrisen, 1854)
Heartbreak (Hjertesorg, 1852)
Silver coin (Sølvskillingen, 1861)
Seat (Krøblingen, 1872)
Walkers (Hurtigløberne, 1858)
Snowman (Sneemanden, 1861)
The Snow Queen (Sneedronningen, 1844)
Hidden - Not Forgotten (Gjemt er ikke glemt, 1866)
Nightingale (Nattergalen, 1843)
Sleep (En Historie, 1851)
Neighbors (Nabofamilierne, 1847)
Old gravestone (Den gamle Gravsteen, 1852)
The Old House (Det gamle Huus, 1847)
Old street lamp (Den gamle Gadeløgte, 1847)
Old church bell (Den gamle Kirkeklokke, 1861)
Steadfast Tin Soldier (Den standhaftige Tinsoldat, 1838)
The fate of the burdock (Hvad Tidselen oplevede, 1869)
Flying chest (Den flyvende Kuffert, 1839)
Sausage stick soup (Suppe paa en Pølsepind, 1858)
The Happy Family (Den lykkelige Familie, 1847)
The Gatekeeper's Son (Portnerens Søn, 1866)
Talisman (Talismanen, 1836)
Shadow (Skyggen, 1847)
The thorny path of glory ("Ærens Tornevei", 1855)
Auntie (Moster, 1866)
Aunt Toothache (Tante Tandpine, 1872)
Rags (Laserne, 1868)
What the hubby does is fine (Whatever the hubby does, everything is fine) (Hvad Fatter gjør, det er altid det Rigtige, 1861)
Snail and Roses (Snail and Rosebush) (Sneglen og Rosenhækken, 1861)
Philosopher's Stone (De Vises Steen, 1858)
Holger Danske (1845)
Flowers of little Ida (Den lille Idas Blomster, 1835)
Kettle (Theepotten, 1863)
What They Can't Think Up… (What You Can Think Up) (Hvad man kan hitte paa, 1869)
In a thousand years (Om Aartusinder, 1852)
What the Whole Family Said (Hvad hele Familien sagde, 1870)
Darning needle (Stoppenaalen, 1845)
Rose bush elf (Rosen-Alfen, 1839).

Name: Hans Christian Andersen

Age: 70 years old

Place of Birth: Odense, Denmark

A place of death: Copenhagen, Denmark

Activity: writer, poet, storyteller

Family status: not married

Hans Christian Andersen - Biography

Who is unfamiliar with Andersen? Perhaps there is no such person. If they don’t know his last name, then they certainly know all of his fairy-tale heroes. His works are still being republished, films are made based on them and cartoons are drawn. They are included in the compulsory school curriculum. And not to get acquainted with the biography of this amazing person is just a crime.

Childhood, family

Hans Christian Andersen was born into the family of a shoemaker and laundress. The town in Denmark where the family lived was small. The father always read fairy tales to the boy. And the theater was the child's favorite pastime. Puppets for the home theater were made by ourselves. They were made of wood and sewn patchwork clothes for them. Hans was happy to compose various stories, and he had a rich imagination. Only now he did not know how to write down at that time, only at the age of ten he was able to comprehend the basics of science. But the biography of the baby's education began usually, like everyone else.

Predictions

One day, the mother turned to a fortuneteller to find out about the fate of her son. Great was her surprise when she heard that Hans was going to be famous. And then miracles began, with which the biography of the writer abounds. Once a real puppet theater came to the city on tour, which needed an artist. Hans managed to get this free seat. Puppeteers gave performances for rich people.

The boy dreamed of becoming an actor in the royal theater, for this rich people were needed - one colonel gave Hans good recommendations. At the age of 14, the future great storyteller, with the blessing of his mother, left for Copenhagen. He went to become famous.

Andersen's independent life

Everything went well, the boy had a well-trained voice, and he was assigned small roles. Hans grew up and was fired from the theater as an unpromising actor. But we must pay tribute to his imagination, which the poet Ingeman managed to notice. The ruling at that time Frederick VI wrote a petition asking him to provide Andersen with a free education.

Writer's career, books

As a writer, Hans Christian Andersen began to take shape at the age of 25, when his first fantasy story was published. Hans gets the opportunity to see Europe while traveling on the money from the royal prize. Andersen had already firmly decided that he would write fairy tales. And when his stories began to diverge in large numbers, the journalists asked who tells the author stories. The storyteller was quite surprised by this question. Why is what he writes about not seen by his readers?

Tales of Andersen

How can you now do without the "Snow Queen", "Thumbelina" and "The Little Mermaid"? Thanks to Andersen, everyone can test the crowned lady and find out if she is a real princess. You can learn courage from the Steadfast Tin Soldier, and from the Ugly Duckling loyalty and simplicity. In Denmark, there are monuments not only to the storyteller, but also to his heroes: the incomparable Little Mermaid, Ole Lukoya with his invariable multi-colored umbrella of dreams.

Hans Christian Andersen - biography of personal life

The great storyteller, inventor and dreamer was not married, he had no children. The storyteller had men and women as friends. The great Andersen had no sexual relations with either women or men. The first potential lover was the sister of a comrade, to whom he did not dare to confess his feelings. With the second chosen one, Hans was passionate and in love, but all his efforts were rejected in favor of a successful lawyer.

In Paris, he was a frequent visitor to the red-light districts, but for the most part the storyteller talked with young ladies about his life. The biography of the writer, who had liver cancer, was coming to its logical conclusion. And before his death, he fell out of bed, hurt himself very badly, lived for another three years, never recovering from his injuries during the fall.

– Travel on foot from the Holmen Canal to the eastern cape of the island of Amager
- Love on the Nikolaev Tower
– Agnetha and Vodyanoy
– Improviser
- Only violinist
– Fairy tales told for children
- The Steadfast Tin Soldier
– Picture book without pictures
– Nightingale
- Ugly duck
- The Snow Queen
- Girl with matches
- Shadow
- Two baronesses
- To be or not to be

Hans Christian Andersen is an outstanding Danish writer and poet, as well as the author of world-famous fairy tales for children and adults.

He wrote such brilliant works as The Ugly Duckling, The King's New Dress, Thumbelina, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Princess and the Pea, Ole Lukoye, The Snow Queen and many others.

Many animated and feature films have been shot based on Andersen's works.

So in front of you short biography of Hans Andersen.

Biography of Andersen

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805 in the Danish city of Odense. Hans was named after his father, who was a shoemaker.

His mother, Anna Marie Andersdatter, was a poorly educated girl who worked all her life as a laundress. The family lived very poorly and barely made ends meet.

An interesting fact is that Andersen's father sincerely believed that he belonged to a noble family, since his mother told him about this. In fact, everything was quite the opposite.

To date, biographers have established for sure that the Andersen family came from the lower class.

However, this social position did not prevent Hans Andersen from becoming a great writer. Love for the boy was instilled in his father, who often read him fairy tales from different authors.

In addition, he periodically went to the theater with his son, accustoming him to high art.

Childhood and youth

When the young man was 11 years old, trouble happened in his biography: his father died. Andersen took his loss very hard, and for a long time was in a depressed state.

Studying at school also became a real test for him. He, as well as other students, was often beaten with rods by teachers for the slightest violations. For this reason, he became a very nervous and vulnerable child.

Hans soon persuaded his mother to drop out of school. After that, he began attending a charity school attended by children from poor families.

Having received basic knowledge, the young man got a job as an apprentice at a weaver. After that, Hans Andersen sewed clothes, and later worked in a tobacco factory.

An interesting fact is that while working at the factory, he had practically no friends. His colleagues mocked him in every possible way, releasing sarcastic jokes in his direction.

Once, Andersen's pants were lowered in front of everyone in order to allegedly find out what gender he was. And all because he had a high and sonorous voice, similar to a woman's.

After this incident, hard days came in Andersen's biography: he finally withdrew into himself and stopped communicating with anyone. At that point in time, Hans' only friends were wooden dolls, which his father had made for him a long time ago.

At the age of 14, the young man went to Copenhagen, because he dreamed of fame and recognition. It is worth noting that he did not have an attractive appearance.

Hans Andersen was a thin teenager with long limbs and an equally long nose. However, despite this, he was accepted into the Royal Theater, in which he played supporting roles. It is interesting that during this period he began to write his first works.

When the financier Jonas Collin saw his play on stage, he fell in love with Andersen.

As a result, Collin convinced King Frederick VI to pay for the education of a promising actor and writer from the state treasury. After that, Hans was able to study at the elite schools of Slagels and Elsinore.

It is curious that Andersen's fellow students were students who were 6 years younger than him in age. The most difficult subject for the future writer was grammar.

Andersen made a lot of spelling mistakes, for which he constantly heard reproaches from teachers.

Andersen's creative biography

Hans Christian Andersen is best known as a children's writer. More than 150 fairy tales came out from his pen, many of which have become classics of world significance. In addition to fairy tales, Andersen wrote poetry, plays, short stories and even novels.

He didn't like being called a children's writer. Andersen has repeatedly stated that he writes not only for kids, but also for adults. He even ordered that there should not be a single child on his monument, although initially he was supposed to be surrounded by children.

It is worth noting that serious works, like novels and plays, were quite difficult for Andersen, but fairy tales were written surprisingly easily and simply. At the same time, he was inspired by any objects that were around him.

Andersen's works

Over the years of his biography, Andersen wrote many fairy tales in which one can trace. Among such fairy tales, one can single out "Flint", "Swineherd", "Wild Swans" and others.

In 1837 (when he was assassinated), Andersen published the collection Tales Told to Children. The collection immediately gained great popularity in society.

It is interesting that, despite the simplicity of Andersen's fairy tales, each of them has a deep meaning with philosophical overtones. After reading them, the child can independently understand morality and draw the right conclusions.

Andersen soon wrote the fairy tales "Thumbelina", "The Little Mermaid" and "The Ugly Duckling", which are still loved by children all over the world.

Later, Hans wrote the novels "Two Baronesses" and "To Be or Not to Be", designed for an adult audience. However, these works went unnoticed, since Andersen was perceived primarily as a children's writer.

Andersen's most popular fairy tales are The King's New Dress, The Ugly Duckling, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Thumbelina, The Princess and the Pea, Ole Lukoye, and The Snow Queen.

Personal life

Some biographers of Andersen suggest that the great storyteller was not indifferent to the male sex. Such conclusions are drawn on the basis of the surviving romantic letters that he wrote to men.

It is worth noting that officially he was never married and had no children. In his diaries, he later admitted that he had decided to give up intimate relationships with women, because they did not reciprocate.

In the biography of Hans Andersen, there were at least 3 girls for whom he felt sympathy. Even at a young age, he fell in love with Riborg Voigt, but never dared to confess his feelings to her.

The next beloved of the writer was Louise Collin. She turned down Andersen's proposal and married a wealthy lawyer.

In 1846, there was another passion in Andersen's biography: he fell in love with the opera singer Jenny Lind, who charmed him with her voice.

After her speeches, Hans gave her flowers and recited poetry, trying to achieve reciprocity. However, this time he failed to win a woman's heart.

Soon the singer married a British composer, as a result of which the unfortunate Andersen fell into depression. An interesting fact is that later Jenny Lind will become the prototype of the famous Snow Queen.

Death

At the age of 67, Andersen fell out of bed and received many serious bruises. Over the next 3 years, he suffered from his injuries, but was never able to recover from them.

Hans Christian Andersen died on August 4, 1875 at the age of 70. The great storyteller was buried at the Assistance Cemetery in Copenhagen.

Andersen's photo

At the end you can see the most famous Andersen. I must say that Hans Christian was not distinguished by an attractive appearance. However, under his clumsy and even ridiculous appearance was an incredibly refined, deep, wise and loving person.