Not happily ever after

Libby Purves on Hans Christian Andersen, whose bicentennial will be held April 2.

Of all writers for children (though he insisted his work was for adults too) Andersen champions with unique vitality the essential value of the story. He eschewed plodding morality and sentimental reassurance, and plunged his hand straight into the fire of life. He was a great deal less cosy and harmless than nervous early translators made him seem, not to mention modern interpreters from Danny Kaye to Disney.

Yeah, some of his tales are pretty grim. Like this one, in which our heroine gets her feet chopped off.