HCA NEWS New Hans Christian Andersen literature

New Hans Christian Andersen literature aimed at refugees, immigrants and school children.

By ms - H.C. Andersen 2005 - 17 August 2004

In celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen, the publisher of educational resources, Special-pædagogisk Forlag Herning, has published two new books in Danish with support from the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation: An evocative biography, H.C. Andersens liv, (The Life of Hans Christian Andersen) and a modern rendition of some of his famous fairytales, Den grimme ælling - og ni andre eventyr. (The Ugly Duckling and Nine other Fairytales)

Both books, written by Kirsten Ahlburg and Karl Aage Kirkegaard, are easy-readers yet loyal towards historical fact. The books are aimed at refugees and immigrants in Denmark but can also be used with fifth-grade elementary school children (approx. 12 years of age) and are well suited as resources in Hans Christian Andersen teaching.

In H.C. Andersens liv (The Life of Hans Christian Andersen), the two authors allow the storyteller himself to describe important events in his life as they imagine he would have experienced them. This narrative form evokes a living impression of who Hans Christian Andersen was as a man, and what he thought and felt. The autobiographical aspects are contextualised by chapters providing the necessary historical background information.

Den grimme ælling - og ni andre eventyr (The Ugly Ducking and Nine Other Fairytales) written in modern Danish yet as loyal to Andersen's original style as possible. All fairytales are illustrated with cheerful drawings by the Danish-based Romanian illustrator Dodi Romanati.

The books are available from the publishing house or local bookshops in Denmark. H.C. Andersens liv costs DKK 156 including VAT and Den grimme ælling - og ni andre eventyr costs DKK 102.50 including VAT.

For futher information on the books, please contact Special-pædagogisk Forlag Herning, Birk Centerpark 32, 7400 Herning, Denmark. Tel.: +45 9712 8433 or e-mail: , www.spf-herning.dk.


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