Reading Groups

In Short: Hans Christian Andersen's “The Little Mermaid” with Amanda Hollander

$45

1 Session

In stock

Thursday, 6:30 pm EDT - 8:00 pm EDT June 18, 2026

The Center for Fiction

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Exploring the World of Hans Christian Andersen: A new series of In Short discussions. Register individually or click here to enroll in all four sessions at a discounted rate. Registration includes a complimentary drink from our Café & Bar. A link to the story will be emailed upon registration.

Our last In Short exploring the stories of Hans Christian Andersen will focus on arguably his most famous—some might say infamously adapted—story, “The Little Mermaid.”

Aching to become human and gain a soul, Andersen’s tragic heroine meets her doom as a result of her love for a young prince. Most people today are familiar with Disney’s romantic (albeit unfaithful) adaptation, but in its day, the story was condemned by the likes of P. L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins, for the didactic blackmail at the end of the story and the message child readers might be left with. Together we’ll look at the story itself, its fraught historical relationship with Andersen’s own biography, and how adaptation has shaped our understanding of the fairy tale.

What to read in advance of the first meeting: Please read “The Little Mermaid” in its entirety before we meet. A link to the story will be emailed to you upon registration.

What to expect from this reading group: Seminar-style structure with an emphasis on discussion, and supplemental information and history provided by the instructor as helpful.

Led by

Amanda Hollander

Amanda Hollander

Amanda Hollander is a writer and librettist living in Brooklyn. She holds a doctorate in Victorian and children’s literature from UCLA.

About this series

Reading Groups

Whether you’re looking to catch up on great novels or you’re interested in exploring a new writer or literary period, our reading groups offer high-level literary discussion led by experts in the field.

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