Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen When he was boy Hans Christian Andersen loved to make up stories He would sit for hours in the tiny yard at home, with his mother's apron over his head to keep out the sun He invented plays for his dolls, and even made a toy theatre for them! Hans was born in 1805 in Odense, a town in Denmark His father was a shoemaker, and his mother a washerwoman. They were so poor that they had only one room. But being poor did not bother Hans. He was a dreamer, and found magic all around him. Hans never played with other boys. They were rough, and made fun of his lanky legs and his strange stories. He liked to be alone, reading books or playing with his doll theatre. when he was seven, Hans saw his first real play, at the town theatre. He was entranced. There and then he decided to become a famous actor. At the age of fourteen, Hans climbed aboard a coach clutching a bundle of clothes Soon he was rattling out of Odense He was on his way to Copenhagen, Denmark...