In Hans Christian Andersen: A Great Life in Brief, Godden captures poignantly the affection Hans feels for his native land as well as his arduous struggle to win the reciprocal affection of his fellow Danes. Godden does not romanticize Hans's childhood or the plight of the poor in general, nor does she overstate Hans's achievements. She is, at all times, mindful of Hans's manic-depressive nature, and she leaves the distinction between his pathology and genius deliberately blurred. An undercurrent throughout this book is Godden's tacit approval of the cooperative spirit of the Danes. Their unwavering support for education and the arts is matter-of-fact and laudable. Hans's own character exemplifies the virtue of this policy: even when fortune befalls him, he lives simply and does not become avaricious, always taking what he needs and no more.

Godden's appreciation for the social sensitivity implicit in Andersen's own work...