Global InformationThe Little Mermaid information
| "The Little Mermaid" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Hans Christian Andersen | |
 The Little Mermaid – illustration by Edmund Dulac | |
 Text available at Wikisource | |
| Text available at Danish Wikisource | |
| Original title | Den lille havfrue |
| Translator | Mary Howitt |
| Country | Denmark |
| Language | Danish |
| Genre(s) | Literary fairy tale |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Fairy Tales Told for Children. First Collection. Third Booklet. 1837. (Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Første Samling. Tredie Hefte. 1837.) |
| Publication type | Fairy tale collection |
| Publisher | C. A. Reitzel |
| Publication date | 7 April 1837 |
| Published in English | 1845 |
| Series | 2525318047 |
"The Little Mermaid" (Danish: Den lille havfrue), sometimes translated in English as "The Little Sea Maid",[1] is a fairy tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Originally published in 1837 as part of a collection of fairy tales for children, the story follows the journey of a young mermaid princess who is willing to give up her life in the sea as a mermaid to gain a human soul.
The original story has been the subject of multiple analyses by scholars such as Jacob Bøggild and Pernille Heegaard, as well as the folklorist Maria Tatar. These analyses cover various aspects of the story, from interpreting the themes to discussing why Andersen chose to write a tragic story with a happy ending. It has been adapted to various media, including musical theatre, anime, ballet, opera, and film. There is also a statue portraying the mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark, where the story was written and first published.
- ^ Mary Pitcairn, unpublished unique manuscript, retrieved 02/12/2023 from Abebooks.co.uk