Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was an internationally renowned Danish storyteller. His deeply meaningful fairy tales have been touching the hearts of children and adults for almost two hundred years. The book includes, perhaps, the most poignant story of H. K. Andersen – "The Girl with the matches". This short Christmas story tells about a little beggar girl. On Christmas Eve, she is forced to sell matches in the bitter cold on the street in order to bring at least some money into the house, where neither parental warmth nor home comfort await her. But passers-by do not notice the girl, because everyone is rushing to their families, the festive table and the decorated Christmas tree.…Drawings by N. Demidova.