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

1841

Journey to Europe and the Orient Continued
Athens
Constantinople
Getting to Know Liszt

1841: Journey to Europe and the Orient Continued


In this year

Fodreise (A Walking Tour) is released in Sweden for the first time (Falun). On this, HCA comments in Mit Livs Eventyr (The Fairy Tale of My Life):

"up there in Fahlun, a Danish edition was reprinted, something which otherwise only occurs with the most important work by Oehlenschläger".

In this year

Certain fairy-tales by HCA are published in German periodicals (eg. "Den lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid), "Kejserens nye Klæder" (The Emperors New Clothes) and "Den standhaftige Tinsoldat" (The Steadfast Tin Soldier).

January

Spends time in Rome with, amongst others, the painters Martinus Rørbye, Constantin Hansen and Albert Kuchler. Visits Thorvaldsen's studio, where one of his students continues to work. Much of the stay in Rome is spoiled by bad weather, toothache and bad news from home (eg. Heiberg's ridicule of HCA).

2 February

Is awarded a travel grant of 600 rdl. HCA had hoped for 800, so as to be able to continue the journey.

7 February

The long awaited fellow poet, H.P. Holst, arrives.

11-12th February

Accomparies Holst and the theologist Conrad Rothe to Tivoli, where they see the fountains by torchlight.

13th - 23rd February

HCA experiences the carnival in Rome.

19 February

The painter Ernst Meyer paints HCA for his album. Meyer later paints a watercolour of HCA wearing travelling clothes (cape, hat and cane).

25 February

Departure from Rome with H.P.Holst and the theologian Conrad Rothe. They travel via Cisterne, Terracina, Mola di Gaëta and Sant' Agata to Naples.

28th February - 15th March

Staying in Naples, with an excursion to Herculanum on 8th March.

1841: Athens


15 March

Departure from Naples on the steam-ship Leonidas. Destination: Athens.

17 March

Arrival at Malta.

18 March

On from Malta via Syra (where HCA boards the steamship Lykurg) then on through Pireus (in quarantine here) to Athens.

22 March

The Mulatto, translated to Swedish by E.W.Djurström and now titled Mulatorna, is performed for the first time at Kungliga Teatern in Stockholm. 10 performances in total.

24 March

Arrival in Athens. Visits e.g. the architect brothers, Christian and Theopolis Hansen, who show HCA around. Christian Hansen had arrived in Athens in 1822 and was ordained royal architect in 1834 by King Otto. Theopolis had arrived in Athens in 1838. Christian Hansen shows HCA his university building (26th March) and later draws HCA (1st April and 7-8th April).

28th and 31st March

Outing to Kolonnos and Pireus.

6 April

Witnesses the celebration of independence and spends Easter (9th - 11th April) in Athens.

12 April

Dinner with the Austrian Ambassador and writer, Anton Prokesch von Osten, who reads aloud Chamisso's translation of 5 poems by HCA for the guests.

14 April

Evening party held by King Otto of Greece.

18 April

Dines once more with Prokesch von Osten, who reads some of his poems from Asia and Africa aloud. HCA tells fairy-tales, e.g. "The Little Mermaid", which greatly pleases the young Austrian attaché and lyrical poet Hippolit Sonnleithner.

1841: Constantinople


20 April

From Athen to Pireus. From here HCA sails on 21at April with the steamship Eorotas, bound for Syra.

22 April

Aboard the steamship Rhamses from Syra to Smyrna. During the trip a storm rages so fiercely that HCA fears his final hour has arrived:

"The women shrieked, the ship creaked and I thought about my Danish friends, those I expected never to see again"
(letter written in Vienna, 21st June, to Henriette Wulff).

Continues through the Dardanelles, past Gallipoli to Constantinople.

25 April

Arrival in Constantinople.

5 May

Departure from Constantinople aboard the ship Ferdinand I. Sails through the Bosporus to The Black Sea and to Küstendje (Constanta). On 7th May, via Tartariet in Bulgaria, aboard the Danube Ship named Argo. Passes by Rustchuk (8th May) and other Bulgarian towns, through the Iron Gate (Romania, 11-12th May) to Orsova. Departs Orsova 24th May by carriage, headed for Drenkova. On from here aboard the steamship Galathea (via Moldavia, Belgrade, with a stay in Semlin) to Budapest (Pesth).

31st May - 2nd June

In Budapest.

2 June

Leaves Budapest aboard the steamship Maria Anna, via Pressburg (3rd June) bound for Vienna.

4 June

Arrival in Vienna. Spends time with Melchior Grevenkop-Castenskjold, Danish secretary of legation, who takes HCA under his wing. Also associates with the violinist August Pott and the piano virtuoso Sigismund Thalberg. Hears Johan Strauss senior in Volksgarten (11th June) and visits the poet Grillparzer (11th & 22nd June), who is very happy to see HCA again and feels that HCA is the only natural poet at the present time. Visits the German actress and writer Johanna von Weisserthurn.

23 June

Departure from Vienna.

25 June

Arrival in Prague, where he sees Nestroy acting in one of his own folk comedies.

28 June

Sails from Prague along the river Elbe, aboard a steamship named Boehmia, bound for Dresden (arrival 29th June). Here he visits the painter J.C. Dahl, as well as the writer and theatre director Theodor Hell.

2 July

Sits for the painter C.C. Vogel von Vogelstein, who draws HCA for the royal collection.

3 July

Departs Dresden by railway, headed for Leipzig, where HCA visits the Mendelssohns and the Brockhaus family and meets Goethe's daughter-in-law, Ottilie von Geothe. On 5th July, Mendelssohn plays some organ pieces by Bach and some of his own for HCA at Thomas Kirche. (It was Mendelssohn who had rediscovered Bach, so to speak). Visits the publisher Carl B. Lorck, who he knew from Copenhagen (Lorck the Dane was a publisher in Leipzig and became HCA's regular publishing contact between 1846-1855).

6ht July

Departure from Leipzig via Magdeburg and from here with the steamship Hamburg to Lauenburg (diary, 8th July: "I am in Denmark"), and Hamburg, where he spends time with the composer J.P.E. Hartman, amongst others.

12 July

Leaves Hamburg for Kiel, aboard the steamship "Løven" (the Lion). Bound for Årøsund, and from here via Assens t Odense.

14-17th July

In Odense. Visits the Hancks, amongst others.

17 July

A carriage is sent from Glorup Estate to fetch him. Stays here till 21st July. Visits the neighbouring farm, Ørbæklunde (20th July).

1841: Getting to Know Liszt


22 July

Return to Copenhagen.

24 July

Attends a concert with Liszt in Copenhagen. Spends time with Liszt during the next few days (before Liszt's departure on 26th) e.g. at the Hartmanns', in Thorvaldsen's studio and at the queen's residence.

30 September

During a dinner party at the Collins' - at a time when HCA is in a "bad mood" - Bournonville holds "an enthusiastic and motivating speech for me". Afterwards, HCA visits the Bournonville home.

9 December

Is drawn by Lieutenant Sophus Schack for a large painting, "The Coronation". It is one of several paintings produced for the occasion of King Christian VII's coronation and anointment on 28th June, 1840, in the church of Frederiksborg Castle. HCA was not present inside the church itself, during the ceremony, but was represented amongst the almost 80 persons in the painting all the same (he is situated under the organ). The painting was completed in 1843.
Kun en Spillemand (Only a Fiddler) is released in a new Dutch translation.

19 December

Stage Production of A Wander though the Opera Gallery, Declamatory Frame for a Stage Series of Works by Older and Newer Composers of the Danish Stage. Arranged for Evening Entertainment for Messrs. Cettis and Sahlertz at the Royal Theatre, 19th December 1841. The title in Danish: Vandring gjennem Opera-Galleriet, declamatorisk Ramme for en Scene- Række af ældre og nyere Componisters Arbejder paa den danske Scene. Arrangeret til Hr. Cettis og Sahlertz Aftenunderholdning paa det kongelige Teater, den 19'de December 1841.

20 December

Release of Eventyr, fortalte for Børn. Ny samling. Tredie Hefte (Tales, Told for Children. New Collection. Third Booklet). Includes: "Willie Winkie" ("Ole Lukoie"), "The Rose Alf" ("Rosen-Alfen"), "The Swineherd" ("Svinedrengen") and "The Buckwheat" ("Boghveden"). 2nd edition in 1847.

26th December:
Vandring gjennem Opera-Galleriet (Wandering through the Opera Gallery) is printed in Figaro, Vol. 2., 13th booklet.


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