The original fairy tale The Little Mermaid was written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen and was first published in 1837 in Danish under the title Den lille havfrue.

Quick Scoop

  • The answer to “who wrote The Little Mermaid ” is Hans Christian Andersen, a 19th‑century Danish fairy‑tale writer.
  • It appeared in his collection Fairy Tales Told for Children. First Collection. when it was first published in Copenhagen.
  • The story is a literary fairy tale, not a direct retelling of a single folk legend, but it was influenced by earlier mermaid and water‑spirit folklore.

A Bit Of Background

  • Andersen wrote many other famous tales, including The Snow Queen , The Princess and the Pea , and The Ugly Duckling.
  • The Little Mermaid has since inspired countless adaptations, from stage and ballet to films and modern illustrated editions.

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