Hans Christian Andersen (also known as H.C.A in Denmark and other countries) was a novelist, short story writer and poet throughout his life. His father died in 1816 when Andersen was roughly eleven years old. This forced him to move out of home and support himself. He moved from Denmark to Copenhagen to seek employment in musical theartre. However, once his voice broke his career ended with fellow work members calling him a poet, which he considered seriously and began writing. After several of his books were published while still writing he then attempted an apprenticship for weaving and tailoring and moved on to work in a tabbaco company. Here he was humilated by fellow work members as they suspected him as a homosexual and often called him a female.