Hans Christian Andersen (April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875) was born in Odense, Denmark to working parents; his father was a shoemaker and his mother a washerwoman. He left home at age 14 to seek his fortune as an artist, singer and actor, with little success. With the help of the director of the Royal Theatre he was able to pursue his education and attend university, where he began writing.  He first gained recognition as a poet, and later as a novelist before becoming known for his fairy tales.  While his Fairy Tales took some years to gain recognition, the tales became widely known in his lifetime. He eventually wrote over 150 tales which have been translated into over 100 languages.  He is regarded as the greatest Danish writer, and his legacy lives on in the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award given by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark every two years to an author and illustrator of children’s literature.