The H C Andersen Library

The H C Andersen Library

Step softly into the library, dear listener, where swans remember their sorrows, tin soldiers keep brave hearts, and mermaids dream beneath the moonlit sea. In The H C Andersen Library, the beloved tales of Hans Christian Andersen are read in full, just as a candle is lit against the evening: to bring wonder, tenderness, and a little golden sadness into the room.

Episodes

May 29, 2026 17 mins
In which a weary soldier encounters a mysterious old witch who sets him on a curious adventure involving a hollow tree, three magical dogs with immense eyes, and a promise concerning a tinder-box. The tale unfolds with riches, secret visits to a hidden princess, and the unexpected power held by the soldier’s newfound treasure, weaving a story of fortune, courage, and enchantment.
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In which two men share a name and a rivalry, leading to a curious series of events involving a dead horse’s skin, a mysterious conjuror, and a shrewd trickster’s dealings with unwitting neighbours. Through wit and odd adventures, the tale unfolds in a quaint village setting where fortune and folly dance a merry jig under the ever-watchful eye of fate.
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In which a discerning prince seeks a true princess amidst many, encountering one tempestuous night who claims such a title despite her bedraggled appearance. To test her claim, a curious trial involving a single pea beneath a royal stack of bedding reveals the delicate nature that distinguishes genuine royalty.
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In which a tender young girl named Ida listens with delight to a scholarly student’s fanciful tales of flowers who, after a long night’s ball at the king’s castle, lie weary and withered by day. With gentle imagination and a warmth of heart, she cares for her own blooms and witnesses their magical nocturnal dance, joining in a world where toys and flowers alike partake in the quiet merriment of the night.
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In which a tiny maiden born from a magical flower embarks upon a journey through the seasons and meets curious creatures of the earth and air, unfolding a world both delicate and wondrous. She discovers kindness and companionship amidst trials, and finds herself poised between the shadow of the underground and the warmth of the sunlit flowers.
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In which a kindly old poet takes shelter from a storm and warmly welcomes a drenched and shivering little boy who carries a splendid, if rain-soaked, bow. This mischievous child reveals himself as Cupid, delighting in mischief and mischance by shooting the poet’s heart with an arrow, thus beginning a tale of sly and persistent Cupid’s capers that touch the lives of many.
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In which a young man named John, having lost his beloved father, ventures into the wide world accompanied by a clever travelling companion, encountering wondrous sights and curious adventures along the way. Together they brave enchanted riddles and dark magic surrounding a beautiful but feared princess, leading to a remarkable unfolding of fate and fortune.
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In which a young sea-princess, dwelling in a splendid underwater kingdom of coral castles and shimmering gardens, grows curious about the mysterious world above the ocean’s surface, especially the human lives that she hears of from her wise grandmother. As her sisters take their turns to visit the surface and tell of its marvels, the youngest eagerly awaits her fifteenth birthday, when she will be allowed to rise and behold t...
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In which a little mermaid braves the dangers of the underwater witch's domain to trade her melodious voice for human legs, enduring sharp pain and silence in hope of winning a prince’s love and an immortal soul. Though she walks and dances with grace beneath the sunlit world above the waves, her heart is heavy with longing and silent sorrow as she contemplates the price of love and the fate that awaits her beyond the sea.
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In which an emperor, devoted to fine clothes above all else, is beguiled by two cunning weavers who promise him a wondrous fabric invisible to those unworthy or foolish. As his ministers and subjects all, out of fear or pride, pretend to see the splendid garments, the emperor parades through his city cloaked only in illusion, until an innocent child's simple truth begins to ripple through the crowd.
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In which two fairies discuss a magical pair of goloshes that grant their wearers the power to transport themselves to any place or time they desire, offering a fleeting chance at true happiness. The tale then follows the unexpected and often bewildering adventures of those who don these enchanted goloshes, revealing the contrasts between longing and reality in the streets and skies of Copenhagen and beyond.
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In which a pair of enchanted goloshes whisk their wearers through fanciful journeys of the heart and imagination, revealing the varied and secret chambers of human character and the restless yearnings of the soul. The curious transformations and wandering spirits of those who don these mystical boots evoke tender reflections on poetry, freedom, and the elusive nature of true happiness.
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In which a humble daisy thrives unnoticed beside a grand garden, finding joy in the sun’s warmth and the song of a lark, despite the proud blooms that surround it. When the lark is cruelly caged, the daisy is brought near to comfort the bird, yet both suffer neglect, sharing a quiet sorrow amidst a world that swiftly forgets their silent bond.
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In which a brave tin soldier, distinguished by a single leg, stands steadfast and admiring by a delicate paper dancer who balances on one leg in a charming little paper castle. His unwavering courage and silent fortitude carry him through a series of adventures that reveal the mysterious and curious spirit of the playthings’ world by night.
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