Hans Chrstian Andersen was born 207 years ago

Do these beings exist or not? Or do they only inhabit in the ones who are pure at heart? Let’s now give up Logics, read Andersen’s work. Let’s allow dreams and hopes take part in our life. Let’s feel and dream about a better ‘enchanted ‘ world.

NOTE

This article was first published on 02/04/2010 (*). I reviewed it and upgraded it to celebrate the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen. He was born in Odense on April 2, 1805, and died in Copenhagen in August 4, 1875

I - INTRODUCTION

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2th . He would be now 207 years old if he were alive. He’ll always be among us - even adults – throughall his work as a writer. Almost all of us read the stories listed in this article.

His fairy tales, and other short stories have been repeatedly translated into almost all existing languages. They are expressions of his unmatched tender literary creativity… Written dreams matched with a wanted (and ‘needed’?) reality tender touch people of all ages. The ones with ‘pure’ souls, may certainly feel the existence of these diaphanous, almost incredible beings: Elementals, Spirits of the Nature, fairies, sylphs, gnomes … all that imaginary tangible / intangible... can be seen and felt by the ones with creative imagination’s intelligences. (**)

He also devoted his work to stories of princes and princesses, of true love that overcomes all problems, and specially on the respect due to the elders, the love overcomes hate, good to overcome Evil… Light, overcomes Darkness, and always the presence of hope for better days if we strive for pursuing them.

Curiosities that many are unaware:

When Andersen told his stories, he often enjoyed – at the same time to draw them while telling them… or, with a scisor to make paper figures or even kinds of origami cuts.

This, in harmony with his perfect diction and intonation, made him an almost unrivaled storyteller.

There is even a museum in Copenhagen with several pictures and clippings made by Andersen himself. Let us remember that there was not television or radio then. So, it wasn’t possible to record at the time his deeds; They were first passed from generation to generation. Specially in cold and rainy days and evenings, after dinner, it was common for families to gather by the fireplace… The children, with their bright eyes wide opened , sat quietly and carefully around their parents, grandparents, uncles … and listened to the stories that lately in the night were part of their dreams. That stories ‘accompanied’ them during all their lives.

They grew up, had their own children, and the habit was therefore being consolidated generation after generation, till our days …

Thanks to this – then healthy way of living- which maintained the family united, Andersen’s creation, has has been recreated day after day and survived through times.

Therefore, it must be stated: neither was Gutenberg’s invention of printing with movable type (around 1439). Let’s also remember that this process of mobile type mass production, using oil based ink, had high cost and was used only to print important issues …

Andersen’s writing is indeed the greatest contribution to children’s literature. For this reason, April 2th was chosen as the “International Children and Youth’s Book Day”. Additionally, the most important award of this genre of literature, has his name.

Let us remember how much we appreciated all Andersen’s stories… and also how much we indeed appreciate to tell them to kids and how much the love to listen to them,…

Mirna Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Rio de Janeiro, April 3rd , 2012

(**) “Blessed are Angels of the Four Elements of earth, water, air and fire. O ye faithful servants of God, ye blessed! You also, ye blessed children of nature, Nature’s spirits, who live inhabit the caves, forests, mountains, seas, lakes, rivers, winds, clouds, the sun. “

II – Hans Christian Andersen was born 207 years ago, on April 2nd

Anderson is well known by his stories. Nevertheless he was also a poet.

He was born from humble family; his father was a shoemaker. Andersen struggled to get a good education – and achieved his goal. His poetry , essays and of course, the Dying Child’s tale guaranteed him a place at the Institute of Copenhagen.

Besides tales and stories, Andersen wrote plays, poems and patriotic songs, too. Probably because of the children he is specially worldwide known by his fairy tales.

These following are the most known (among many others) Andersen’ tales: The Spruce, The Ugly Duckling, The Little Box of Surprises, The Red Booties, Little and Great Claudius, The Soldier of Lead, The Little Mermaid, The Emperor’s New Clothes and The Princess and the Pea.

He had also published: The improviser (1835), Nothing like a minstrel (1837), Book of images without images (1840), The romance of my life (autobiography in two volumes, originally published in Germany, in 1847),

Nevertheless, we may considered fairy tales his greatest work (‘Eventyrog Historier ‘or Stories and Adventures), which he published from 1835 to 1872), where the Nordic humor is combined with a smiling bonhomie, and which uses both : folk tales and irony specially addressed to his contemporaneous .

(*) Http://www.brasilwiki.com.br/noticia.php?id_noticia=22473