From the Hans Christian Andersen biography "The Life of Hans Christian Andersen. Day By Day", written by DPhil Johan de Mylius:
1822
Attempts during Youth1822: Attempts during Youth
March
HCA submits to the theatre a "tragedy of the fatherland", titled Røverne i Vissenberg (The Vissenberg Robbers). It is turned down on 16th June with a comment regarding lacking abilities "even as far as skills in the mother-tongue", but with mention of an "unmistakable aptitude for writing". A scene from the tragedy was printed in Liunges periodical, Harpen, on 9th August. This was the first time HCA had his name printed as an author.
But even before he learned of the theatre's opinion of The Vissenberg Robbers, he had written Alfsol, another tragedy in 5 acts (with subject-matter from Nordic Short Stories (Nordiske Noveller) by the 18th century writer and historian, P.F. Suhm). Rural Dean C. Gutfeldt, at the Church of the Royal Dockyards (the Navy) - yet another of the influential men HCA had sought out and gotten to sympathise with his well-being - encouraged HCA to submit Alfsol to the theatre.
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