By: HISTORY.com Editors

1805

Hans Christian Andersen is born

Hans Christian Andersen
Bettmann Archive
Published: November 13, 2009Last Updated: May 27, 2025

Hans Christian Andersen, one of the world’s greatest storytellers, is born in Odense, near Copenhagen.

During Andersen’s boyhood, his father died, and the child went to work in a factory briefly. However, he showed great talent for languages and entered the University of Copenhagen in 1828. The following year, he published his literary spoof "A Journey on Foot from Holmen's Canal to the East Point of Amager," which became his first important work.

Andersen wrote several plays that flopped, but he achieved some success with his novel The Improvisatore (1835). Meanwhile, he entertained himself by writing a series of children’s stories that he published as collections. The first, Fairy Tales Told for Children, (1835) included “The Princess and the Pea.” Andersen released new collections every year or two for decades as he traveled widely in Europe, Africa, and Asia Minor. His stories include “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Little Mermaid” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” He died in 1875 at age 70.

The Dark Side of the Grimm Fairy Tales

Check out six sinister themes in his work you likely wouldn’t find in a modern-day children’s story.

Color illustration from the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood" depicting the character, Little Red Riding Hood, sitting on the grass and cowering as a wolf approaches her. Part of "Grimm's Fairy Tales" by the Brothers Grimm.

Check out six sinister themes in his work you likely wouldn’t find in a modern-day children’s story.

By: Jesse Greenspan

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Citation Information

Article title
Hans Christian Andersen is born
Website Name
History
Date Accessed
August 28, 2025
Publisher
A&E Television Networks
Last Updated
May 27, 2025
Original Published Date
November 13, 2009

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