Hans Christian Anderson – Copenhagen, Denmark
When Erin and I visited Copenhagen in 2017, this large bronze statue of Hans Christian Anderson, fondly reminded us of so many of the childhood stories we shared. Anderson is Denmark’s most beloved storyteller, and he is seated on a tall chair as if he is ready to share a story in the middle of Copenhagen.
The sculptor, Henry Luckow-Nielsen, unveiled this statue in 1966 to honor the 125th anniversary of Anderson’s first published fairy tale collection. This statue is intentionally larger than life to give Anderson the presence that he deserves.
Hans Christian Anderson was born in 1805 into humble circumstances in Odense, Denmark. He was the son of a washerwoman and a shoemaker, and his childhood was marked by poverty and loneliness. From these unpromising beginnings emerged one of the greatest storytellers of all time.
Anderson possessed a boundless imagination, and his stories would eventually be translated into more that 125 languages and cherished by readers across the years. Erin and I shared the memories of some of his most popular books: The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling and the Princess and the Pea, to name just a few.
In Copenhagen, Anderson is a big part of the nation’s identity with statues, museums, parks and plaques honoring his life. This statue stands large outside of Copenhagen’s City Hall reflects his status as a cultural icon of Denmark.
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