Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark in 1805. As a boy, Hans wanted to work in the theater, so he left home at age 14 & traveled to Copenhagen. He tried to get work as a ballet dancer, an actor, & a singer, but didn't succeed. That's when he decided to write stories.
A sponsor paid for his schooling & for him to go to University. Hans began by writing books about travel. Later he wrote down the fairy tales he loved as a boy.
He wrote over 212 stories before his death at age 70.