Four classic fairy tales from Hans Christian Andersen, read by Sir Derek Jacobi, Anne-Marie Duff, David Tennant, and Penelope Wilton. Here are four of Hans Christian Andersen’s best-loved short stories, specially adapted for young children and read by some of Britain’s most well-known actors. The Emperor’s New Clothes read by Sir Derek Jacobi: An emperor is promised a special suit of clothes by a pair of tailors. The Little Mermaid read by Anne-Marie Duff: A beautiful mermaid falls in love with a prince. The Fir Tree read by David Tennant: A little fir tree is desperate to grow up and be like the other trees in the forest. The Wild Swans read by Penelope Wilton: A princess must rescue her brothers from a spell cast by a wicked queen.
Author
Hans Christian Andersen (often referred to in Scandinavia as H.C. Andersen) was a Danish author and poet. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. Andersen's popularity is not limited to children; his stories—called eventyr, or "fairy-tales" — express themes that transcend age and nationality. Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films.
