Hans Christian Andersen's Enduring Legacy and Modern Echoes

This book traces Hans Christian Andersen from his humble beginnings in Odense to his struggles for education and recognition in Copenhagen. It looks at the patrons who helped him, the European travels that shaped his voice, his loneliness and unrequited loves, and the folklore behind his early work. The middle section explores the fairy tales themselves, including The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid, before turning to Andersen's influence on culture, art and modern thought. A gentle, rewarding read for lovers of fairy tales, literary biography and Danish history. 95 pages.