From the Hans Christian Andersen biography "The Life of Hans Christian Andersen. Day By Day", written by DPhil Johan de Mylius:

1871

Journey through Sweden to Norway
The Bournonville Ballet

1871: Journey through Sweden to Norway


January

The first four chapters of Lykke-Peer (Lucky Peter) are published in New York in Scribner's Monthly Magazine. The remaining are published in the next few months up until and including April.

27th - 28th January

Paris surrenders.

28th March - 29th May

"La commune de Paris" (the revolutionary government in Paris).

29 April

Moves out of the lodgings in Tordenskjoldsgade, where he had become increasingly dissatisfied (memories from here are included in the story told by the student in "Tante Tandpine" (Aunty Toothache) from 1872). Moves in at the Hotel d'Angleterre, where he pays approximately the same as at the previous lodgings, about 30 rdl. per month. Stays in nr. 65 at first, but is able to have his usual two rooms in nr. 66 a few days later.

7th - 11th May

Staying with Countess Julie (Lilly) Moltke at Espe. Although HCA had previously refused to believe in "the supernatural", during the last few years his interest in such matters had grown. On occasion he had even entertained with ghost stories himself. Here at Espe and also at Basnæs in June, he himself witnesses the appearance of ghosts.

11th May - 6th June

At Basnæs Estate. Goes on an outing from here to Borreby. HCA mentions the haunting at Basnæs in his diary on 6th June:

"Last night at about one am, I woke and heard a knocking at the door; many who have stayed in this room hear this knocking".

6 June

Back in Copenhagen. Stays at Rolighed until 25th July. Here he receives a visit from the Dutch author Johannes Kneppelhout and his family.

17 June

At Rolighed, HCA takes part in the celebration of Moritz and Dorothea Melchior's silver wedding anniversary. Writes a cantata for this occasion, with music by the Swedish composer J. Ad. Hägg, who lives with the Melchiors.

25 July

Travels to Norway, through Sweden: via Elsinore-Helsingborg, then to Jönköping and Göteborg.

28th July - 2nd August

In Göteborg, where he attends, amongst others events, the opening of the agricultural exhibition. While in Göteborg he meets Anna Bjerring, who has arrived with the boat from Frederikshavn. She turns him against her by imposing herself on him with words of reproach.

2 August

On from Götebörg to Karlstad (he is very impressed with this region, which would later become known as a result of the depictions given by Selma Lagerlöf. In the diary, HCA notes; "I feel I am in poetic mood"). Then continues across the Norwegian border, via Kongsvinger, to Christiania (Oslo).

5th - 25th August

In Norway. Is greeted by Bjørnson on arrival at Christiania railway station. Whilst here he lodges at Hotel Victoria. Visits Bjørnson at his country home on several occasions and goes on outings in the region around Christiania.

9 August

Went on excursion to Ringerike. By carriage to Sandvigen, staying the night at Hønefoss, by train past Tyrifjord to Drammen and by ship back to Christiania.

12 August

Accompanies Bjørnson and others on an outing to Sandvigen. They sail over there aboard the steamship 'Louise', "a filthy little ship" (diary, same day). A festive dinner with a great ball is held in the evening, and "Danish, Norwegian and Swedish flags flew" (the diary). The guests overnight there and return to Christiania on the next day.

18 August

A party is held in honour of HCA at the Botanical Gardens. The principle speech of the evening is delivered by Pastor Jørgen Moe, also a publisher of fairy-tales.

22 August

Is invited to the freshmens' reception party, where he is asked to read aloud and is applauded and cheered.

25 August

Departure from Christiania. Takes the same route home as on the way there (receiving a great deal of attention at every Swedish railway station along the way). From Elsinore he pays a short visit to the Collins' in Hellebæk.

31 August

Back in Copenhagen, where he moves in with the Melchiors at Rolighed.

1871: The Bournonville Ballet


9th - 18th September

Staying with the Henriques family at Petershøj in Klampenborg.

18th September - 23rd October

At Rolighed once again.

1 October

The poem "Spørg Amagermoer" (The Carrot Wedding) is printed in the magazine Illustreret Børneblad.

4 October

From King Karl XV of Sweden-Norway, HCA receives the Commander Cross of the Norwegian Order of Olav, with a star ("it is the first I have been given", diary, same day). The order was bestowed upon him in September.

6 October

A religious discussion with a Miss Anna Kiellerup, a follower of Grundtvig. HCA is accused of being Jewish in his belief. Insists that Jesus is a human being who offers the opportunity to imitate him. Uses an adapted version of Lessing's parable about the ring (in Nathan der Weise) to smooth over the ill-feelings.

23 October

Moves in to no. 18 in Nyhavn, with Miss Hallager. Has three rooms here, at 30 rdl. per month.

3 November

At the University of Copenhagen, Georg Brandes delivers the initial lecture in the series which is to become Hovedstrømninger (Main Currents of European Literature ).

15 November

The magazine Illustreret Børneblad prints "Sangen til Dukkerne" (The Dolls' Song). This includes "Dandse, dandse Dukke min" (Dance, Dance, Doll of Mine). The first verse of this had been printed, unsigned and titled "Min Dukke" (My Doll), in July 1857 in Folkekalender for Danmark.

27 November

For the first time in 16 years, he receives a letter from Jenny Lind. The letter was sent from Firenze, where she and her husband and daughter are staying.

5 December

HCA is invited to 'Asylskolen', a school for orphans in Rigensgade, of which the queen dowager is patroness. At the school a charcoal drawing of HCA is unveiled, right across from the portraits of Oehlenschläger and Ingemann. The drawing is based on a photo taken by Miss Hallager. HCA then reads aloud, is cheered and the children sing "I Danmark er jeg født" (In Denmark I Was Born). He describes the occasion in an unpublished letter dated 15th December to Mrs Scavenius at Basnæs;

"About 12 days ago I was invited to the queen dowager's school for orphans; The children there had all chipped in to buy a large charcoal portrait of H.C. Andersen. They themselves had already obtained similar portraits of Oehlenschläger and Ingemann. I was greeted with cheers and a little song. The orphanage is for girls only and they all wanted to shake hands with me when I left, in fact one little girl would not let go at all. Vicar Rørdam spoke kindly to me and I read a couple of fairy-tales for the children. Her Majesty the queen dowager had wanted to grace the party with her presence, but a cold prevented her from doing so".

12 December

Release of H.C. Andersens nye Eventyr og Historier. Med Illustrationer efter Originaltegninger af Lorenz Frølich. Andet Bind. Med 99 Illustrationer (...New Tales and Stories. With Illustrations Based on Original Drawings by Lorenz Frølich. Volume Two. With 99 Illustrations.)

13 December

Reads aloud at the Students' Association.

17 December

The magazine Illustreret Tidende prints "Den store Søslange. Et Nutids-Eventyr" (The Great Sea Serpent. A Contemporary Fairytale).

24 December

Attends the dress-rehearsal of Bournonville's new ballet based on HCA's fairy-tale, Et Eventyr i Billeder (A Fairy-tale in Pictures). The music is by Vilhelm Holm. HCA is very pleased indeed with "the poetry and beauty there is" in the dance and also with the decorations: "Gyllich [Valdemar Güllich], the theatre painter has done a splendid job of illustrating my fairy-tales" (the diary, same day).
Has dinner at the Henriques', but is otherwise alone this Christmas Eve.

26 December

First performance of Bournonville's HCA-inspired ballet, Et Eventyr i Billeder*. According to HCA it resulted in:

"...unstinted admiration; I went up to the stage and thanked Bournonville. He, in turn, embraced me and asked if I could see a touch of my spirit in the ballet"
(the diary, same day).

However, both the Melchiors and the Henriques feel that Act II is too long-winded and are not happy with Act III. Newspaper critics are of a similar opinion.
The ballet is performed 14 times during HCA's life.

31 December

Has dinner with the Henriques, where he is invited to see in the New Year, but goes home and celebrates the New Year alone, as expressed in the diary;

"Started the New Year, then, by drinking and going to bed. This will not be misunderstood should it at some point be read, my intention is to burn all these notes".

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