Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales

by Hans Christian Andersen

Along with famous stories including 'The Ugly Duckling’, ‘Thumbelina’ and ‘The Emperor’s New Suit’‘The Red Shoes’, ‘The Wild Swans’ and the fable of the solitary Phoenix bird.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, Audiobook, Mythology, Fairy Tales

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1812

About the 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.

Reviews

[Sara]

This audiobook featured a collection of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales. While I enjoyed the narrators voice and way of reading, I preferred the epub version by Tatar we had been reading because of its choice of words and literary(?) translation.

However, I wanted to share the starting time for each story included in this audiobook:

1:00 The Princess and the Pea

3:42 Thumbelina

30:12 The Emperor's New Clothes

41:05 The Steadfast Tin Soldier

52:03 The Ugly Duckling

1:16:33 The Little Mermaid

2:16:30 The Little Match Girl

2:22:36 The Wild Swans

3:02:57 The Nightingale

3:28:15 The Snow Queen

4:49:30 “The Will-o’-the-Wisps Are in Town,”  Said the Bog Witch

5:24:33 The Rags

5:29:46 The Adventures of a Thistle

5:39:29 Luck Can be Found in a Stick

5:45:32 The Days of the Week

[Mioree]

3.5⭐️

Goes without saying that some fairytales in this collection are 5⭐️ but I’m rating all of them plus the performances of the voice actors. Its a great audiobook!

[Aaronlisa]

I have read quite a few of Hans Christian Anderson’s stories before when I was younger. That said I am more familiar with the Grimm Brothers when it comes to fairy tales or retellings

I am not sure if it’s the version of the fairy tales that I had read, but I wasn’t aware how short some of the tales are. Nor was I aware of how Christian in morality these tales are. It is very clear that these stories are largely intended on how to teach children how to behave. Unlike the Grimm Brothers, Anderson’s stories are largely sweet and innocent. That’s not to say death doesn’t happen, but you don’t have any step sisters hacking off a toe or heel to fit their foot in a glass slipper. Nor is there any gore at all. The little match girl dies of neglect and cold, and the little mermaid sacrifices herself out of love but their deaths are largely painless and without violence and there is the hint of salvation at the end of their stories.

I wouldn’t be opposed to reading a more complete collection of his fairy tales or something more scholarly that discusses his fairy tales.

[Cat]

Translated from the original Danish with a few short musical excerpts between some of the stories. As an adult, I found the stories enjoyable and the narration well done. If you are reading with very young children (maybe ages up to 9 or 10 if they are sensitive), understand that as with most original fairy tales, that aspects of some of the stories may seem harsh or characters cruel. I feel like these are really interesting stories to share with kids. While some are not widely known, I was surprised while listening to realize that the fantasy novel Six Crimson Swans is actually based mostly on The Wild Swans by HCA. Also, if you watched the series Once Upon a Time on TV, The Snow Queen was represented among the characters and certain plot points make more sense to me now as they seemed random before reading this. Enjoy!

[Stephanie]

The audiobook with F. Murray Abraham was exceptional especially with the full cast but this assortment of Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales was just okay. Another book marked off the to read list of Gretchen Rubin’s recommended child/middle grade/YA books. Her list is not worth your time, it’s very problematic.

[Rick Fifield]

This book was surprising to me, I did not realize that many of these stories were ones I learned as a child. There are 27 stories in this book.

[Caro Robson]

It was fascinating to discover these tales in their gory, original forms.

[Tessa]

It was so nice to revisit the fables I remember from childhood. Andersen really knew how to paint a scene, and the magic he brings to his stories is second to none. The brilliant F. Murray Abraham voiced this audiobook, and while he does an excellent job, I found myself getting lost in the melody of his voice and losing focus on the stories themselves. I sure hope these stories are still being read to children these days. They're just brilliant and one of a kind; even if some of them lean towards the darker side of the spectrum.

[Aidan Macdonald]

A really nice collection of fairy tales. I must admit that I do prefer hans Christian Andersen's work over the complied Grimm tales. I find these stories to be better fleshed out with much more understandable character motivations. I also like how there is a clearer set out moral to many of the stories. Great to listen to to fall asleep aswell. Definitely something I'll pick up again when I can't face a full novel.

6.75/10

[Carolyn Harris]

A perfect audiobook performance of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales. The Little Mermaid and the Little Match Girl are especially moving. My favourite is The Ugly Ducking, which Andersen reputedly wrote about his own experiences. Some of the later fairy tales in the audiobook have not aged as well. The Snow Queen is too long and The Days of the Week ends the collection on a very whimsical note.

[Jessica Lange]

This was the perfect listen on the long flight back home from Denmark. While visiting Denmark I learned a lot about Hans Christian Andersen and even enjoyed a theme park ride based on his stories at Tivoli Gardens. But it had been ages since I'd read his stories. This was a great collection with great narration.

[Lana]

Listened to with my 7 year old granddaughter while driving her to and from school. She loved them, especially The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid. Narration was excellent.

[Patrick Trent]

2.5 Stars A collection of fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen. Some of them are famous, others are not top notch...

[julie]

Great to read actual translations of stories we think we know… far more big c Church influence than expected!

[Sean]

A limited selection of lesser-known stories.

[Becky]

Exactly what you’d expect.