Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen, Paperback Book, By: Hans Christian Andersen

A great many years ago In the enchanted fairy tale world, There were fairies and elves and devils and angels Princes wicked and charming Snow Queens and Ice Maidens A girl as little as a thumb And a Little Mermaid From the forest and hills of the same fairy world, A poor fellow arrives in town Join him every evening As he paints the scenes described by the Moon In a Picture Book Without Pictures. Classic and timeless, Hans Christian Andersens fairy tales with their unforgettable characters, common themes, whimsical humour, and morals and wisdom have been delighting children and adults alike. The tales have been translated into more than a hundred languages and have undergone several adaptations over the decades. About the Author: Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805, in Odense, Denmark. He was introduced to literature by his father who read Arabian Nights to him. Andersens fantasies and imaginations began taking shape when he visited a theatre in Odense at the age of seven. He published his first story, The Ghost at Palnatokes Grave, in 1822 and his first novel, The Improvisatore, in 1835. Andersen began writing fairy tales, which were based on the folk tales he had heard as a child. Fairy Tales Told for Children. First Collection. (Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Sampling.), a collection of nine tales, was published in three instalments in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 1835 and 1837. He received the standard royal literary scholarship in 1838. The same year, he began writing the second series of fairy tales. Andersen published the Picture Book without Pictures in 1840. By now, he had become well known throughout Europe. Another series of fairy tales was published in 1844, and in 1845, translations of his fairy tales appeared. Andersen never ceased writing fairy tales. Andersens last fairy tales were published in 1872. He died on August 4, 1875.