Hans Christian Andersen statue in Copenhagen

This memorial statue to Hans Christian Andersen was created not long after his death by August Saabye in 1880. The base is decorated in reference to his fairy tales. Andersen is generally regarded as the great literary genius of the Danish Golden Age, perhaps even outshining Søren Kierkegaard. To quote Andersen in Denmark is almost akin to quoting Shakespeare in England. Regarded as much more than a children’s writer, his “fairy tales” are seen as ambiguous, clever, philosophical, theological, and poetic, especially when read in the original language. The writer is shown sitting with a book in his hands.

The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Andersen (1838)  - one of my favourite fairy tale ever
http://hca.gilead.org.il/wild_swa.html