Biography for
Hans Christian Andersen (I)

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H.C. Andersen was born in 1805. His father (Hans Andersen) was a poor shoemaker and his mother a washerwoman. The family did not have a permanent address until 1807. The family lived for the first time together at Munkemøllestræde. The father worked as an independent shoemaker, with a workshop in the livingroom. In 1816 his father died of illness, and H.C. Andersen got a stepfather who was releated to his mother. In 1828, Andersen passed his examination at Copenhagen University and matriculated there. He took the examination which entitled him to begin his studies (philologicum) and passed his philosophicum examination the following year. After several years of serious illness, HCA died on 4 August 1875 at 'Rolighed', the country seat of the Jewish merchant family Melchior. The Melchiors had taken care of him during the final period of his life.

Trivia

Some of his most popular fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Princess and the Pea", "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Match Girl", "The Snow Queen", "Thumeblina", "The Wild Swans", "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Steafast Tin Soldier".

Was interred in the Assistens Kirkegard in Copenhagen.

His birthday, 2 April, is celebrated as International Children's Book Day.

A Shanghai theme park based on his fairy tales opened at the end of 2006.

Andersen made 30 long journeys in his life, which inspired his novels and fairy tales. He traveled to Germany, England, Italy, Spain and Turkey.

Two museums, "H.C. Andersen Hus" and "H.C. Andersens Barndomshmjem", are dedicated to him and his work in his hometown Odense.

Unlike many writers, he was widely popular during his lifetime. In 1867, he was appointed Councillor of State in his native Danmark and became Honorary Citizen in Odense.

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