Name: Hans Christian Andersen
Age: 200 ... had he lived, of course
Nationality: Danish
Claim to fame: The beloved author of fairy tales

SOME things are so timeless that they can’t even be termed classic. And this is the case with the fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen almost two centuries ago. His 168 fairy tales have influenced film, novels, poetry and music since their publishing in the 19th century. Based on traditional folklore and children’s tales, the stories are simple and eloquent, and contain moral lessons. Listening to The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and The Emperor’s New Clothes are what childhood memories are made up of for so many of us, although many of us may not know the author’s name.

This year, people are going to hear Hans Andersen’s name more often because his bicentenary is being celebrated in a big way around the world, particularly in Denmark where he was born. While a big bash is being planned for his birthday on April 4, Danish Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Princess Mary recently took part in celebrations in Australia to honour Andersen. The Australian-born Danish princess was named as an honorary Hans Christian Andersen ambassador, along with five other celebrities at a ceremony at the Sydney Opera House to mark the bicentenary. The six appointed ambassadors will represent the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation to promote celebrations of the storyteller’s life and work.

Born in slums, Andersen’s father was a shoemaker and his mother was a washerwoman for the rich, which is why in his stories you will find many themes related to the difference between the poor and the rich. There is also the occasional shoemaker in them. When his father died, Hans had to leave school. He built himself a little toy-theatre and sat at home making clothes for his puppets, and reading all the plays that he could borrow. Among them were those of Ludvig Holberg and William Shakespeare. Passionate about literature, he was known to memorize entire Shakespearean plays and recite them using his wooden dolls as characters. After getting some financial help he went to a university in Copenhagen and began to pen his stories.

First known as a poet, Andersen’s poetry won him many patrons and paid his way to travel throughout Europe. His first book of fairy tales was published in 1835. The book was a success and he followed it with other volumes of children’s stories, almost one a year, right up until 1872. His stories have been translated into more than 100 languages. Hans Christian Andersen was tall and skinny with a big nose — he always thought that he was very ugly. His own complexes are reflected in his stories that show compassion for those who are outcast. They also make fun of the spoiled and conceited. His stories teach us that appearances can be deceiving, and that there is a magical beauty even within the most unlikely characters.

Andersen died on August 4, 1875, after being ill for a long time, but he still lives on in his tales. Happy Birthday old boy! —Saman Ahmed