"Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon. "
— Bertolt Brecht
Hans Christian Andersen (2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was an internationally acclaimed Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. With this in mind, it is important to note that Andersen's popularity is not limited to children; his stories (called eventyr in Danish) express themes that transcend age and nationality, and remain prominent worldwide.
Andersen's fairy tales have been translated into more than 125 languages, and have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness. Although readily accessible to children, Andersen's tales present lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Little Mermaid", "The Nightingale", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling", "Thumbelina", and many more.
See below our stock of Hans Christian Andersen First Editions, fine bindings, sets, and signed copies.
London: Constable & Co. Ltd., 1913. [Illustrated Fairy Tales] FIRST HEATH ROBINSON EDITION. Small quarto (26 x 19cm), pp.xii; 288 [4]. With 16 chromolithographic plates by Heath Robinson, including a frontispiece, and numerous in-text line drawings. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles and decoration to spine and upper. Top edge..... More