Hans Christian Andersen was a renowned Danish author best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Although he was a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, his fairy tales have become embedded in the Western collective consciousness. Andersen's tales, consisting of 156 stories across nine volumes, have been translated into more than 125 languages. They are accessible to children and also present lessons of virtue and resilience for mature readers.

Andersen's most famous fairy tales include "The Emperor's New Clothes," "The Little Mermaid," "The Nightingale," "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Red Shoes," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Snow Queen," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Little Match Girl," and "Thumbelina." His stories have inspired numerous adaptations in ballets, plays, and films.

Early Life: Born in Odense, Denmark, Andersen was the son of a shoemaker. He learned various trades but did not complete any. At 14, he moved to Copenhagen to pursue a career in acting and singing. However, after several hardships, he turned his attention to writing, supported by patrons who recognized his talent. His school years were described by him as some of the darkest and bitterest of his life.

Career: In 1829, Andersen began to achieve success with his writing, publishing short stories and poems. He received a royal grant in 1833 to travel across Europe, which further enriched his experiences and works. His first novel, The Improvisatore, was published in 1835, followed by the first of his fairy tales.

Andersen was known for his vivid imagination, humor, and sensitivity, often reflecting his own life's struggles in his stories. Despite his humble beginnings, he fantasized about being of noble birth, which perhaps fueled his creative endeavors.

In his personal life, Andersen experienced an affair with ballet dancer Harald Scharff, but he spent much of his life unmarried. He died in 1875 following an injury.