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Hans Christian Andersen Facts

Hans Christian Andersen Facts
Hans Christian Andersen, the famed children's author who wrote fairy tales such as The Little Mermaid, and The Ugly Duckling, was born on April 2nd, 1805 in Odense, Funen, in the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway (now known as Denmark). He was an only child to Hans Andersen and Anne Marie Andersen. His father died in 1816, and his mother remarried in 1818. Hans was sent to a school for poor children and became a weaver's apprentice and then a tailor to support himself. At 14 he move away to become an actor in Copenhagen, but when his voice changed he took the advice of a friend at the theatre and focused on writing. Andersen's first published story was The Ghost at Palnatoke's Grave in 1822.
Interesting Hans Christian Andersen Facts:
Hans Christian Andersen's first two installments of Fairy Tales were published in 1835.
Fairy Tales included the stories The Tinderbox, Little Claus and Big Claus, The Princess and the Pea, Little Ida's Flowers, Thumbelina, The Naughty Boy, The Traveling Companion, The Little Mermaid, and The Emperor's New Clothes.
In 1938 Hans Christian Andersen wrote another collection called Fairy Tales Told for Children: New Collection First Booklet which contained the stories The Daisy, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and The Wild Swans.
In 1845 Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales were translated into four different languages.
Hans Christian Andersen wrote fairy tales until 1872, publishing them in installments as he did with the first series Fairy Tales.
Hans Christian Andersen liked to travel, and to write about his adventures in travelogues. In Sweden was published in 1851. He published several more travelogues including Shadow Pictures of a Journey to the Harz, Swiss Saxony, A Poet's Bazaar, In Spain, and A Visit to Portugal in 1866.
Hans Christian Andersen lived at 67 Nyhavn, Copenhagen from 1845 to 1864. There is a memorial plaque in his honor there today.
In 1847 Hans Christian Andersen met Charles Dickens at a party hosted by the Countess of Blessington. 10 years later Hans Christian Anderson visited his friend Charles Dickens and his family at their home, stayed too long, and was asked to leave. This ended their friendship.
In 1872 Hans Christian Andersen fell ill with liver cancer. He passed away on August 4th, 1875 near Copenhagen.
Hans Christian Andersen's gravestone is located at Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen.
At the time of his death Hans Christian Andersen had already earned international acclaim.
International Children's Book Day is held on April 2nd each year in honor of Hans Christian Andersen's birth date.
There is a statue of Hans Christian Andersen at Rosenborg Castle Gardens in Copenhagen.
New York's Central Park is home to a statue of Hans Christian Andersen and The Ugly Duckling.
The International Board on Books for Young People gives the 'Hans Christian Andersen Award' biennially to an author and illustrator for their contributions to children's literature.
Several movies have been made about Hans Christian Anderson including The Swedish Nightingale (1941), Hans Christian Andersen (1952), The Daydreamer (1966) and Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale (2003).


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