<Tr> <Th> Publisher </Th> <Td> C.A. Reitzel </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Publication date </Th> <Td> 7 April 1837 </Td> </Tr> <P> "The Little Mermaid" (Danish: Den lille havfrue) is a fairy tale written by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid who is willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul . </P> <P> The tale was first published in 1837 and has been adapted to various media, including musical theatre, anime, and an animated film . </P>

Who wrote the original fairy tale the little mermaid