27. A Great Children Books’ Author
Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805 – 1875) penned numerous plays, poems, novels, travel books, and autobiographies. His specialty, however, was literary fairy tales. His works in that genre, which include The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling, have become embedded in Western cultural consciousness. His fairy tales are among the most widely translated writings in history. Indeed, they have been a staple of childhood and brought joy to generations of kids around the world. Which is ironic, because Anderson’s own childhood was an unhappy one.
Born to impoverished parents, Andersen grew up in dire want, and as a child, his mother sent him to work in a local mill to help make ends meet. The childhood penury was compounded by a childhood homeliness, or ugliness, if you will, that got the young Andersen teased, mocked, and bullied by his peers. The Ugly Duckling was actually based on his own miserable early years. He overcame the sad childhood and dire poverty and harnessed those experiences into stories that impacted many. His unhappy early experiences messed him up, however, and contributed to some awkward adult habits.