Hans Christian Andersen (Dinamarca, 1805) fue un hombre de origen humilde y formación esencialmente autodidacta. Aun así, como escritor abarcó todos los géneros literarios: novela, cuento, libros de viajes, poesía, teatro, aunque su importancia radica fundamentalmente en los cuentos de hadas, en los que fusiona lo sobrenatural con lo cotidiano. Inspirándose en tradiciones populares y narraciones mitológicas, así como en experiencias personales, escribió más de 150 cuentos protagonizados por personajes de la vida diaria, héroes míticos, animales y objetos animados. Sus obras han sido traducidas a más de 80 idiomas y han sido adaptadas a teatro, ballet, cine, y representadas en esculturas y pinturas. En su honor, desde 1956 se concede, cada dos años, el Premio Hans Christian Andersen.

Joseph Jacobs (1856–1916), the translator, was a prominent scholar, literary critic, and folklorist, best remembered for his brilliant retellings of traditional legends and folktales.

The Greek fabulist Aesop is thought to have lived from 620 to 560 BC. Legend depicts him as a slave with a gift for talking his way out of trouble or punishment, often reciting his fables to illustrate an injustice or human folly. He is also often described as having many physical deformities and a speech impediment. Mentioned by other classical writers such as Herodotus and Aristotle, Aesop is believed to have died by being thrown off a cliff in punishment for stealing a precious goblet.

Helen Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) was an English writer, illustrator, scientist, and conservationist. She is best known for her children's books featuring animals, such as the beloved The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which was written as a gift for the son of her former governess. Its success enabled her to commit to writing and illustrating full time, resulting in more than thirty books.

Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786-1859), were German academics and authors who collected and published folk tales during the 19th century. They popularized such stories as Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White. Their first collection of folk tales, Children's and Household Tales was published in 1812.