Photo by Franz Hanfstaengl, Public Domain


Benjamin W. Wells described Hans Christian Andersen (rather unkindly I think) thusly:

In personal appearance he was limp, ungainly, awkward, and odd, with long lean limbs, broad flat hands, and feet of striking size. His eyes were small and deep-set, his nose very large, his neck very long; but he masked his defects by studied care in dress, and always fancied he looked distinguished, delighting to display his numerous decorations on his evening dress in complacent profusion.

But it is not for the size of his nose or the cut of his suit that he is remembered. It is for the many stories and characters he created: The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Ugly Duckling, The Nightingale, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Match Girl, The Little Mermaid,Thumbelina,The Snow Queen, and many more — Hans Christian Andersen's literary creations have become bywords and symbols that immediately convey such diverse  archetypes as the outsider, the brave and noble warrior, sycophantic yessing subordinates, unattainable perfection and the self-sacrificing heroine.

Hans Christian Andersen's birthday is also celebrated as International Children's Book Day. You can read about  ICBD here. 

Here's a poem in celebration of the 205th birthday of Hans Christian Anderson and some great links that give a closer reading of the page that was his life.




Image courtesy of toomuchcoffee at DevianArt


Ugly Duckling
From the book The Real Reason the Queen Hated Snow (and Other Stories)
Annette Marie Hyder

It never stops
amazing me
how my insecurities
and needy-needs
work magic
every time and always
on the worst —
feathering regal prime prince swans
before my myth-taken eyes
from the ugliest Ugly Duckings


Links of interest:

Hans Christian Andersen: Father of the Modern Fairy Tale (Excellent article by Terri Windling)
Hans Christian Andersen stories at The Gutenberg Project
Wikipedia entry for Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales on postage stamps (From around the world and quite beautiful. Click on country link and then on stamp to enlarge.)
The Home of Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen Books at Amazon.com