Hans Christian Andersen wrote some of the world’s most beloved fairy tales including The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea, Thumbelina and many others.

But, his real life was sometimes stranger than fiction. Deeply anxious, Andersen traveled with a rope in his luggage in case he needed to escape a burning hotel. He also carried a card that read “I only appear to be dead,” fearing he might be buried alive by mistake.

He was terrified of dogs, avoided sharp objects like razors whenever possible, and once overstayed his welcome at Charles Dickens’ house—prompting Dickens to post a note reading: “Hans Andersen slept in this room for five weeks — which seemed to the family AGES.”

Despite his fears and awkward social graces, Andersen wandered across Europe, keeping detailed journals, performing dramatic readings, and writing letters filled with emotion and theatrical flair. In the end, his quirks made him not only a literary icon—but one of the most fascinatingly odd figures of the 19th century.