Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a prolific Danish author and poet, who introduced the idea of fantasy into children’s stories, paving the way for Lewis Carroll in the 1860’s.
He created a separate children’s world of talking toys and animals, and he had a profound effect on later classics of childhood, such as The Wind in the Willows and Winnie the Pooh.
He visited Athens in the spring of 1841, as part of his tour of Germany, Italy, Greece and Turkey. It was a period of rapid change for the capital of the young kingdom. 
Andersen stayed in Athens for a few weeks and kept notes on his impres- sions from this “oriental” city, with its palm trees, coffee shops, classical antiquities, and the ruins left behind by the recent Greek War of Independence.
Andersen arrived from Piraeus covered in dust (“classical dust” according to him) and took up rooms in a hotel from where he could enjoy the view of the Acropolis. He was able to meet King Otto and Queen Amalia after many delays and a long wait.
The famous author felt that Athens resembled a provincial Danish town, albeit one put together in great haste. He enjoyed the comforts of European-style hotels and cafés but also dealt with dirty and ill-lit streets. He attended the theatre as well as the Independence celebrations on 25 March. He was impressed by the liveliness of the marketplace and the learning abilities of the Greeks.
He visited the Acropolis on a daily basis, whether to read his correspondence or celebrate his birthday.
Δείτε και το Activity Book της Ε′ τάξης, σελ. 80.
Ετικέτες: Hans Christian Andersen, Δανία, Ελλάδα, Ε’ τάξη, λεξιλόγιο, Τεχνητή Νοημοσύνη
