Reading Groups

In Short: Exploring the World of Hans Christian Andersen with Amanda Hollander

$170

4-Session Bundle

In stock

4 Sessions Thursdays, 6:30 pm EDT - 8:00 pm EDT April 2 to June 18, 2026

The Center for Fiction

Add to Cart

A new series of four In Short discussions of Hans Christian Andersen’s stories. Register here to enroll in all four sessions at a discounted rate, or use the links below to register individually. Each session includes a complimentary drink from our Café & Bar. Links to all of the stories will be emailed upon registration.

Session I: “The Emperor’s New Clothes”
Thursday, 4/2, 6:30–8pm ET
In Person at The Center for Fiction

A vain, reckless fool surrounds himself with sycophants and rules in chaos, delusional about himself and enabled by the fawners and flatterers that approach him. This obviously describes the main character in Hans Christian Andersen’s 19th-century fable “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” which warns of what happens when a narcissist is more in love with appearances than with the rule of law, and indulges the grifters around him but punishes those who refuse to accept the lies of adults. Together, we’ll discuss the historical and political events preceding the publication of “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and how Andersen’s story informed other political folktales of his time.

Session II: “The Ugly Duckling”
Thursday, 4/16, 6:30–8pm ET
In Person at The Center for Fiction

Many an ostracized child has been promised that they will be appreciated eventually—that they, too, will one day be recognized for their value. Such is the life of the poor bird at the center of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling.” As a group, we’ll discuss this story’s simple didacticism, Andersen’s personal struggles with ugliness, and the story’s darker narrative about bullying, isolation, and violence. We’ll also talk about how this tale has played a role in examining the psychology of fairy tales, his connection with opera singer Jenny Lind, and why it has such a lasting legacy in spite of its simplicity.

Session III: “The Little Match Girl”
Thursday, 6/4, 6:30–8pm ET
In Person at The Center for Fiction

After Hans Christian Andersen published “The Little Match Girl” in 1845, the story experienced lasting popularity for its juxtaposition of material wealth and a rising middle class with the horrors of abject poverty in an increasingly wealthy European nation. At the same time, the story’s impact also lies in the main character’s occupation. In this group, we will discuss the history of match girls—their lives, their work, and their work’s ensuing medical complications—and how Andersen’s story helped instigate the Match Girl Strike of 1888 in England and the beginnings of the Union of Women Matchmakers. We’ll consider the history of industrialization, women’s rights, child labor, and how these political and social movements are interwoven with one of Christian Hans Andersen’s most popular stories.

Session IV: “The Little Mermaid”
Thursday, 6/18, 6:30–8pm ET
In Person at The Center for Fiction

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 Emperor’s New Clothes” in its entirety before the first meeting. Links to all of the stories will be emailed to you upon registration.

What to expect from these reading groups: 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.

Groups+Workshops

More Groups+Workshops

Groups+Workshops