Publisher Description
‘The Little Mermaid’ as adapted by Hans Christian Andersen, is a long tale with a complex plot which was first published in 1836. It tells the story of a young mermaid who ascends to the surface on her fifteenth birthday, as is the custom. She happens upon a ship in the throes of a storm, and saves the life of a prince who was about to drown. She falls in love with him, vows to find him again and to love him forever. There are, however, different rules and fates that separate mermaids from people, and the little mermaid undergoes many trials because of the choice she made.
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About Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) was born in Odense, Denmark, the son of a poor shoemaker and a washerwoman. As a young teenager, he became quite well known in Odense as a reciter of drama and as a singer. When he was fourteen, he set off for the capital, Copenhagen, determined to become a national success on the stage. He failed miserably, but made some influential friends in the capital who got him into school to remedy his lack of proper education. In 1829 his first book was published. After that, books came out at regular intervals. His stories began to be translated into English as early as 1846. Since then, numerous editions, and more recently Hollywood songs and Disney cartoons, have helped to ensure the continuing popularity of the stories in the English-speaking world.