A vain and self-absorbed emperor hires two swindlers to create a magical fabric that is invisible to anyone who is unfit for their position or "hopelessly stupid." The swindlers pretend to weave the fabric, claiming it's invisible to everyone but them. They tell the emperor it's magnificent and that he must be wise to see it. The emperor parades around naked in public, convinced he's wearing the finest clothes, while his courtiers and advisors pretend to see the non-existent garments. A child points out the emperor's nudity, but no one takes him seriously. Eventually, a group of people who are not part of the royal court also see through the swindle and mock the emperor for his foolishness.
By Hans Christian Andersen · First published 1837 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Satire, Children's Literature