Hans Christian Andersen is born
Hans Christian Andersen one of the worlds greatest storytellers is born in Odense near Copenhagen.During Andersens boyhood his father died and the child went to work in a factory briefly.However he showed great talent for languages and entered the University of Copenhagen in 1828.The following year he published his literary spoof A Journey on Foot from Holmens Canal to the East Point of Amager which became his first important work.Andersen wrote several plays that flopped but he achieved some success with his novel The Improvisatore (1835).
Meanwhile he entertained himself by writing a series of childrens stories that he published as collections.The first Fairy Tales Told for Children (1835) included The Princess and the Pea.Andersen released new collections every year or two for decades as he traveled widely in Europe Africa and Asia Minor.
His stories include The Ugly Duckling The Little Mermaid and The Emperors New Clothes.He died in 1875 at age 70.
