Hans Christian Andersen didn’t just write fairy tales — he became one.

In this episode, we step away from individual stories to talk about the strange, brilliant, deeply complicated man behind The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes. From poverty and relentless ambition to self-mythologizing autobiographies, impossible romances, and a life that reads like one of his own tragedies, Andersen may be the most fascinating figure in fairy-tale history.

This is not a tidy hero’s journey. It’s a story about obsession, creativity, loneliness, and the kind of determination that refuses to be told “no.”