The Wild Swans

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) is one of the most famous fairy tale writers in the world. He was born into a poor family of a shoemaker and a laundress. Despite the hardships of life, the boy was immersed in a... fairy tale world from an early age: his father often read him magical stories aloud, and his tendency towards fantasies and daydreaming helped him cope with life's adversities. At the age of 14, Andersen went to Copenhagen to, as he told his mother, "become famous." The fantastic tale "A Walking Journey from the Holmen Canal to the Eastern Tip of Amager," published in 1829, was well received by the reading public and brought the writer fame. In 1833, Andersen received a royal grant and went traveling. Over a year and a half, he visited Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. The journey inspired the writer greatly, and in 1835 he published his first collection of fairy tales. The book immediately became popular and was a great success. In total, Andersen wrote more than 160 fairy tales. This collection includes world-famous tales: "The Wild Swans," "The Tinderbox," and "The Little Mermaid." They have been adapted multiple times, resulting in films, animated series, and even a ballet ("The Wild Swans"), a musical, and an anime series ("The Little Mermaid"). The characters in the tales experience amazing adventures: Eliza desperately tries to save her brothers from the evil sorceress's spells; a soldier demonstrates courage and resourcefulness that ultimately lead him to the royal throne; the young mermaid longs to gain a soul and win the prince's love. Each of these heroes has a dream, and each one bravely and persistently pursues it, overcoming obstacles and dangers. Eliza's loyalty and devotion to her brothers, the indomitable soldier's cleverness, and the little mermaid's selfless love for the beautiful prince consistently evoke sympathy and empathy from young readers, teaching them to believe in themselves, not to give up on their dreams, and to know that the world is full of wonders, where good and justice always triumph.