By Lubna Abdel-Aziz Spun from a thousand and one threads of pure gold, conceived of simple old folk tales, wrapped around the wings of one man's fancy, they have flown from town to country, from pen to book, from mouth to ear, from mother to child, to rest in the hearts of all who know them. Those are the wonder tales of Hans Christian Andersen of Denmark, so delectable so refreshing, so satisfying, they are good enough to eat. They have indeed been devoured by eagre mortals around the world, winning the hearts of every child, and every child at heart, and will continue to do so, as long as men can read and children can dream. The Danes are stepping out in grand style to celebrate the 200th birthday of their favourite son in a year-long celebration at a cost of $40 million. The whole world is celebrating with them. Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, honorary ambassador of the Hans Christian Andersen Foundation together with tens of royals, dignitaries, world celebrities, film stars and rock stars were on hand last week, guests of Queen Maragarethe II to attend the three-day festivities in his hometown of Odense. His wisdom is of the ages, residing forever inside the human psyche. Even if you think you have not known Hans Christian Andersen -- you have! Somewhere along life's journey you have come across one or more of his tender tales that flowed from his magic pen, offering social, ethical, philosophical gems for generations of children of every race and creed. Surely you have heard of The Little Mermaid who longs for a pair of legs to dance once with her Prince Charming; or The Ugly Duckling who after great hardships discovers he is in reality a beautiful swan; or The Little Match Girl, cold and hungry, who lights up all her matches to keep warm, and in the glow she finds the warmth and happiness she missed in her life. Then there is The Emperor's New Clothes, a penetrating political commentary on the hypocrisy and quackery of the human race -- characteristics that will never leave us. Only a child with a pure heart, unspoiled by life's wily ways could point out the naked truth. Andersen wrote close to 200 fairy tales that have been translated into 156 languages, which have made him one of the greatest literary geniuses the world has ever known. Fairy tales are not all he wrote; with six novels, 80 dramas, travelogues, and collections of poems, he was more than prolific, but it is his creative power in those wondrous tales that have become his enduring legacy. He may well be the only figure in Danish literature to have been intimately known beyond the boundaries of his native Denmark. One of the most widely translated authors of all time, his fame and popularity took the Danes by surprise. They did not warm up to their native son and his works, until he was hailed and revered abroad. He was first recognised in Germany and then the rest of Europe before he won acclaim in his native land. What is Andersen's secret ingredient that separates him from the rest of all story-tellers? He was neither the first to write for children, nor was he the first to introduce children to literature. Perhaps his magnetic spell lay in his own heart, which remained the heart of a child during his 70 years. "He was the first child to have contributed to literature." He had the skill to interpret the world in 'childrenese', to charm, to captivate, to entertain, in a winning, winsome style so genuine and inviting without guile, falsity, or trickery. Such qualities are ours as children, but we soon outgrow them and bury them under the burdens of adulthood. Andersen never did! He was always a lonely child. Born in the spring of 1805, 2 April, in the slums of Odense, his father a poor shoemaker, his mother an illiterate washerwoman. A bitter and restless soul, father doted on son, his only joy in life. He took him for long walks in the woods, read him stories from La Fontaine, Holberg, and The Arabian Nights. He built him a puppet theatre that became the young boy's only childhood pleasure. Sensitive and friendless, tall and clumsy with an unpleasant visage, he was unpopular at school. He spent his time day-dreaming, making up plays or sewing up costumes for his puppets. His young years were immersed in Danish folk tales that surrounded him in the legends and myths of his native Odense, second largest city in Denmark. Among the first cities to have a theatre, it presented pantomimes, tight-rope acts, plays and operas, sights and sounds that kindled Hans's fantasy. He was soon making up his own plays, performing every part to his father's delight. By age 11 Hans's father died, by age 14 he ran off to Copenhagen with The Royal Theatre Group. A fortuneteller once told his mother: "your son is going to be a great man. One day in his honour Odense will be illuminated." In Copenhagen he came to the attention of "a wealthy and prominent civil servant" Jonas Collin, who arranged for Hans to attend school, "Slagelse". He was the oldest pupil at 17, and suffered the humiliation and abuse of his peers. At 23, he passed his matriculation and his entrance exam to the University of Copenhagen, but instead of entering university he began to write in earnest. His first writings were not for children. He wrote plays, travelogues and poems. He travelled to Munich, Rome, Venice, Paris, London, where he met and befriended Victor Hugo, Franz Liszt, Charles Dickens, Heinrich Heine. In 1835 his first novel The Improvisatore was an unqualified success and established him as a writer. He followed this success with his first collection of Fairy Tales, Told for Children. Critics were displeased to see him stoop to something as low as the Eventyr (Latin = adventure), "a tale about a wondrous happening". He wrote his tales with simplicity, magic and mystery: "the way I would tell them to a child." They were based on folk stories and legends he had heard as a child by old widows and peasants, in taverns and nurseries. Although eventyr were held in low esteem by men of letters, his close friend and admirer H C Orsted famous, naturalist and discoverer of electromagnetism, recognised their value: " The Improvisatore will make you famous, The Eventyr will make you immortal!" Fortunately for the world, Andersen continued to spin his magic yarns, to enchant and delight armies of children around the world, transporting them to mythical lands with marble palaces to meet snow queens and emperors; to ocean beds where mermaids dwell; to sleepy rivers where ugly ducklings and beautiful swans glide; to shiver with a freezing little match girl; to hear the sweet song of the nightingale. Though most of his time was spent abroad, his heart was always with his native Denmark: "My heart melts when I think of it!" Once considered by Danes as "our world famous orangutan", they have embraced this genius with "the lanky figure, large feet, coarse features, and a carrot nose." Now they pay homage in full measure to their favourite son. He is to Denmark what "Dante is to Italy, Shakespeare to England, Goethe to Germany" writes Swedish historian Frederich Böök. If your travels take you to Odense, Denmark, celebrate with his people, the birth of their honorary citizen; visit his resting place where ivy vines grow and roses bloom, and read this stanza from one of his poems: The soul which in God's own image is made Eternal is -- can never fade. Eternity's seed in our life doth lie -- The body may fall, the soul cannot die. Translated by Horace E Scudder, October 1884 If not, pick any of his eventyr; thrill and tremble, dream and revel, laugh and cry, as you savour the flavour of these Danish delights!
