Hans Christian Anderson

Tale Summary There was once a good-wife who longed for a child, and so went to visit an old Witch, who gave her a barleycorn to plant in a flower-pot, promising that something would come of it. As soon as the woman placed it in the soil, a tulip popped...

Tale Summary There was once a king who had eleven sons, and a daughter named Elisa. The boys were very well educated princes, and their sister had what she wanted to entertain her, no matter the cost. Their father married a wicked queen, who had no liking for the children...

Tale Summary There once lived a tiny elf, so small that human eyes could not see him, in the middle of a garden in the petals of a rose bush. One night, the sprite was out exploring too late, and by the time he arrived home the rose petals had...

Tale Summary There was once a prince who wanted a princess, and only a real princess would please him. He traveled the world to find one, but was unable to, and came back home discouraged. One evening there was a terrible storm, and a knocking was heard at the gate,...

Tale Summary There were once two clever brothers who made up their minds to propose to the king’s daughter, as she had made it known that she would take whichever man for a husband who had the most to say for himself. One of them knew the Latin Dictionary by...

Tale Summary One New Year’s Eve, a poor little girl wandered barefoot through the streets in the bitter cold. She was carrying a box of matches to sell, but no one bought any all day, and she dared not go home empty-handed because her father would beat her. She crouched...

Tale Summary There was once an Emperor who loved new clothes to the point of excess and spent all of his money and time buying and showing them off. One day, two swindlers come to the town disguised as weavers, and claim to be able to make beautiful garments with...

Tale Summary There was once a prince who wanted to have his very own real princess. He searches all around the world, meeting many princesses, but with each feels like there is something not quite right about them. He can not figure out if they are real princesses or not...

Tale Summary There once was a king’s son who had many beautiful books. He could read about everything and see the most beautiful images, but he could not find out where the Garden of Paradise was to be found, and this was what he thought most about. Until he was...