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

1847

On to Scotland

6 April

Release of Nye Eventyr. Andet Bind Første Samling (New Tales. Volume Two. First Installment) including: ("Den gamle Gadeløgte" (The Old Street Lamp), "Nabofamilierne" (The Neighbouring Families), "Stoppenaalen" (The Darning Needle), "Lille Tuk" (Little Tuk) and "Skyggen" (The Shadow).

Spring of 1847

The Improvisatore is published in French: L'Improvisatore ou La vie en Italie, translated by Camille Lebrun [Mlle Pauline Guyot]. As early as 1837, HCA had been told by his German translator, Von Jenssen, that a French translation of The Improvisatore was under preparation, and that it would be released early 1838. HCA was quite enthusiastic about this, mentioning it in several letters. However, there is no record of any such translation from 1838.

May

Release of Picture-Book without Pictures (Billedbog uden Billeder), translated by Meta Taylor from Fouqué's German translation (David Bogue Publishers, London).

8 May 1847

Models for the painter J.V. Gertner.

13 May

Departs on the trip to England, first staying at Glorup Estate from 14th May until 1st June. Here he writes Ahasverus, a closet drama of the world-history genre. This work is commented on by Edvard in a letter dated 31st May 1847 to HCA:

"Either it's the best you've ever written or it's pure madness. Somewhere between the two it damn well is'nt. The first description is, however, the most likely, for when I read the introduction aloud to Jette, tears stopped me, and that's usually a good sign. What I have read [part one] is well rounded in form and far superior to your earlier works. This is a very pleasant feeling for me".

HCA expects the journey will cost approx. 800 rdl., but this amount is to include Paris. He therefore feels obliged to pawn a ring worth 400 rdl. dollars, for which he can get 200 rdl. However, Edvard Collin arranges a letter of credit to the amount of 999 pounds (i.e. 661 rdl.), after payment by Lorck, for the stockbrokers firm Hambro in London.

1 June

Continues via Odense, Assens/Årøsund, Hamburg, Bremen and Oldenburg, through Holland (via Utrecht) to Amsterdam (arriving 13th June). Sees his portrait at a booksellers in Amsterdam and finds that all in all he is well-known in Holland. Continues on 15th via Leyden to the Haag (from here, an outing to the seaside resort town Scheweningen).

19 June

A party for HCA is held at Hotel d'Europe in Haag.

21 June

Takes the train to Rotterdam and from here the steamship Batavier (filled with emmigrants, cattle and cherries) to London.

1847: On to Scotland


23 June

HCA arrives in London. Here he meets with the hereditary Grand Duke of Weimar as well as Jenny Lind. Also associates with the ballet-dancer Lucile Grahn and the German composer Ludwig Spohr. Sees his portrait (Carl Hartmann's water colour) in the window of a bookseller here in London too.
He is told that in England, those belonging to the nobility and royalty do not associate with artists. He is, however, invited by the high nobility as a much-admired guest. This is not least due to the Danish ambassador in London, Count Frederik (Fritz) Reventlow, who does a lot for HCA and introduces him in the upper circles of society. Reventlow also invites HCA to his own home on several occasions. On one of these evenings at Reventlow's, Carl Hartmann is present and draws HCA reading aloud for the guests. The picture shows (apart from the ambassador) Christian Reventlow, Countess Jutta Reventlow, the daughters Malvina and Hilda, as well as the childrens' governess.
Meets with his translator, Mary Howitt. Visits her and her husband twice in Clapton. Spends quite some time with his other translator, Charles Boner. Sits for the painter J.F. Møller (28th June-13th July). Møller, all the same, produces only one drawing of HCA, which is used as a model for a lithograph.

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