H.C. Andersen

Searching for tales by H.C. Andersen takes us back to the life and work of Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875), who defined the modern fairy tale tradition through his original texts. With a rare gift for dramatizing the human heart, magical encounters and social commentary, H.C. Andersen's tales created a lasting legacy that still captivates children and adults alike.

H.C. Andersen's tales range from heartbreaking fables like "The Little Mermaid" to satirical gems like "The Emperor's New Clothes." In our collection, we've organized the stories by theme: moral and life wisdom, fantasy and magic, animal tales, and humor and satire. The most popular titles are marked with a ⭐ for easy recognition.

The best fairy tales by H.C. Andersen

Here you'll find a carefully chosen selection of the most beloved H.C. Andersen tales, which have captivated readers for generations.

H.C. Andersen's tales have many more stories to offer

With over 150 unique H.C. Andersen tales in his repertoire, the author covers everything from touching human portraits and animal fables to magical encounters and social satire. Each tale offers a glimpse into the complexity of the human mind and life's powerful lessons. We keep publishing new, adapted versions so that everyone can experience these timeless stories.

Classic and Fantastical Fairy Tales

• The Elves on the Heath (1831)
• Grandmother (1845)
• The Wild Swans (1838) ⭐
• The Flying Trunk (1839)
• Little Ida's Flowers (1835)
• The Little Mermaid (1837) ⭐
• The Steadfast Tin Soldier (1838) ⭐
• The Naughty Boy (1835)
• The Dead Man (1830)
• The Diving Bell (1827)
• Elf Hill (1845)
• The Angel (1843)
• A Child's Tale (1831)
• The Traveling Companion (1835) ⭐
• The Tinderbox (1835) ⭐
• The Garden of Paradise (1839)
• Holger Danske (Ogier the Dane) (1845)
• The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep (1845) ⭐
• The Ice Maiden (1861)
• The Emperor's New Clothes (1837) ⭐
• Clumsy Hans (1855) ⭐
• Little Claus and Big Claus (1835) ⭐
• The Galoshes of Fortune (1838)
• The Metal Pig (1842)
• The Nightingale (1843) ⭐
• Ole Lukøje (The Sandman) (1841)
• The Princess and the Pea (1835) ⭐
• The Rose Elf (1839)
• The Snow Queen (1844) ⭐
• The High Jumpers (1845)
• The Storks (1839)
• The Swineherd (1841)
• The Talisman (1836)
• Thumbelina (1835) ⭐
• The Bond of Friendship (1842)

Human Fates and Existential Reflections

• Everything in Its Right Place (1853)
• Anne Lisbeth (1859)
• The Child in the Grave (1859)
• The Bishop of Børglum and His Kinsman (1861)
• The Two Brothers (1859)
• The Two Maidens (1854)
• The Dying Child (1827)
• The Old Gravestone (1852)
• The Old Church Bell (1861)
• The Old Street Lamp (1847)
• The Jewish Girl (1856)
• The Happy Family (1848)
• The Little Match Girl (1845) ⭐
• The Mute Book (1851)
• There Is a Difference (1851)
• It's Perfectly True! (1852) ⭐
• The Old House (1848)
• The Most Incredible Thing (1870)
• The Dryad (1868)
• A Story (1851)
• A Story from the Dunes (1860)
• A Picture from the Ramparts (1846)
• A Leaf from Heaven (1855)
• A Good Temper (1852)
• A String of Pearls (1856)
• A View from a Window in Vartov (1846)
• Song of the Fatherland (1859)
• The Birthday Present (1866)
• The Gardener and the Family (1872)
• God Can Never Die (1836)
• What the Old Man Does Is Always Right (1861)
• What the Whole Family Said (1870)
• What One Can Invent (1869)
• What Happened to the Old Signpost (1866)
• What Old Johanne Told (1872)
• Heartache (1853)
• The Story of a Mother (1848)
• She Was Good for Nothing (1852)
• Ib and Little Christine (1855)
• In the Duckyard (1861)
• The Christmas Tree (1844)
• The Bell (1845)
• The Comet (1869)
• The Cripple (1872)
• Little Tuk (1847)
• Luck May Lie in a Pin (1869)
• Lucky Peer (1870)
• One Can Make Things Up (1869)
• My Aunt (1866)
• The Neighboring Families (1847)
• In a Thousand Years (1852)
• On the Last Day (1852)
• At the Farthest Ends of the Sea (1854)
• The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf (1859)
• The Front Door Key (1872)
• The Psyche (1861)
• The Shadow (1847)
• The Silver Shilling (1862)
• Auntie Toothache (1872)
• The Tallow Candle (1820s)
• Under the Willow Tree (1853)
• The Wind Tells the Story of Valdemar Daae and His Daughters (1859)
• The Story of the Year (1852)

Voices of Nature and Things

• The ABC Book (1858)
• The Buckwheat (1842)
• Dance, Dance, Doll of Mine! (1871)
• The Little Green Ones (1868)
• The Old Bachelor's Nightcap (1858)
• The Great Sea Serpent (1871)
• The Daisy (1838)
• The Golden Treasure (1865)
• The Flax (1849)
• The Sweethearts (1843)
• The Flea and the Professor (1873)
• The Candles (1870)
• The Fir Tree (1846)
• Something (1858)
• The Snail and the Rosebush (1861)
• The Drop of Snow (1863)
• The Snowman (1861)
• The Butterfly (1861)
• Soup on a Sausage Skewer (1858)
• The Teapot (1864)
• The Thistle's Experiences (1869)
• The Drop of Water (1848)
• The Wind (1865)
• The Windmill (1865)
• The Apple Branch (1852)

Satire and Social Commentary

• Days of the Week (1869)
• Danish Folk Legends (1870)
• The Philosopher's Stone (1859)
• The Wicked Prince (1840)
• The Collars (1848)
• The Bell-Ringer in Our Village (1868)
• The Court Cards (1869)
• Krok (1926)
• Great-Grandfather (1870)
• The Pen-Holder (1926)
• The Money-Box Pig (1854)
• Rags (1869)
• The Shield (1865)
• The World's Most Beautiful Rose (1851)

The Animal World – A Mirror of Humanity

• The Beetle That Traveled (1861)
• The Ugly Duckling (1843) ⭐
• The Portuguese Duck (1861)
• Five Peas from a Pod (1852)
• The Frog (1866)
• The Phoenix Bird (1850)
• Poultry Meg's Family (1869)
• The Goblin at the Grocer's (1852)
• The Swan's Nest (1852)