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The True Story of My Life: A Sketch

by H. C. Andersen (1805–1875)

  • Free to read
  • 4 hours to read
  • 9 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"The True Story of My Life: A Sketch" by Hans Christian Andersen is an autobiographical account written in the early 19th century. This work provides insights into Andersen's formative years, detailing his humble beginnings in Odense, Denmark, and chronicling his journey from childhood poverty to the pursuit of a career in literature and theater. At the start of the narrative, Andersen reflects on his childhood experiences, emphasizing the love and support of his parents amidst their struggles. He recalls vivid memories of his upbringing, including the division of labor in his family, the impact of his father's dreams and disappointments, and the influence of his surroundings on his developing imagination. He describes various episodes from his youth that shaped his identity, such as his early fascination with storytelling, his interactions with the local community, and the pivotal moments that ignited his desire to become a writer and performer. The opening sets the tone for a heartfelt exploration of the influences that shaped Andersen's artistic sensibilities and personal convictions, offering readers a glimpse into the mind of one of the most cherished storytellers in literary history.

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  • Andersen, H. C. (Hans Christian), 1805-1875
  • Authors, Danish · 19th century · Biography

Read the opening

Chapter I

My life is a lovely story, happy and full of incident. If, when I was a boy, and went forth into the world poor and friendless, a good fairy had met me and said, "Choose now thy own course through life, and the object for which thou wilt strive, and then, according to the development of thy mind, and as reason requires, I will guide and defend thee to its attainment," my fate could not, even then, have been directed more happily, more prudently, or better. The history of my life will say to the world what it says to me—There is a loving God, who directs all things for the best.

My native land, Denmark, is a poetical land, full of popular traditions, old songs, and an eventful history, which has become bound up with that of Sweden and Norway. The Danish islands are possessed of beautiful beech woods, and corn and clover fields: they resemble gardens on a great scale. Upon one of these green islands, Funen, stands Odense, the place of my birth. Odense is called after the pagan god Odin, who, as tradition states, lived here: this place is the capital of the province, and lies twenty-two Danish miles from Copenhagen.

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Contents

  1. Preface
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II
  4. Chapter III
  5. Chapter IV
  6. Chapter V
  7. Chapter VI
  8. Chapter VII
  9. Chapter VIII

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About this edition

This free edition of The True Story of My Life: A Sketch by H. C. Andersen comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #7007, released 2004-12-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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