Besides these stories - old folk-tales and new fairy tales - he wrote romandes,' plays and books of travel; for he was much more anxious to please big people, than delight small ones. He travelled abroad, went to Italy and Spain, and wrote about what he saw there, But ke was still at his best when he only went as far as the fairyland that lies at one's own doors. His last book of fairy tales was given to the world in 1872. 'Three years later, he died, when he had just reached his three score years and ten; and all the world mourned for the poor Odense cobbler's marvellous son.