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

1862

Harald Scharff
Ingemann dies
Journey to Spain
The Vilh. Pedersen edition

1862: Harald Scharff


In this year

In France, D. Soldi's translation of Contes (Tales) is released in 2 editions, now including Marmier's biography as well as 40 headpieces by Bertall (Paris). At least 16 versions/editions of this book exist, of which 4 are released during HCA's lifetime (the 4th in 1871).

1 January

Return to Copenhagen.

25 January

Reads aloud for a group of ladies at the Workers' Association.

30 January

Is offered 3,000 rdl. by Reitzel for an edition of the illustrated Tales.

31 January

Reads once more for ladies at the Workers' Association.

February

A highly emotional friendship develops between HCA and Harald Scharff, the ballet dancer, who he had known sporadically since 1857. Their relationship raises eyebrows. The diary, 17th February:

"Theodor [Collin] upset me greatly by pointing out how openly I displayed my feelings for S, that people noticed it and considered it ridiculous".

Their friendship lasts approximately one and a half years.

7 February

Reads aloud at Natalie Zahle's for "the entire female institute" (the diary).

10 February

Is summoned to the king at 8 in the evening, where HCA reads his latest collection of fairy-tales aloud.

"The king was lively, talked about his stay in Switzerland, [HCA had of course read e.g. "The Ice Maiden", which is set in Switzerland] thanked me heartily for the pleasure my reading had given him and shook my hand several times"
(the diary).

17 February

Reads aloud at the Artists' Association.

1862: Ingemann dies


19 February

During the morning, HCA attends a reception held by Frederik VII and Countess Danner. He chats with the countess, who informs him that he will soon be invited to visit again and read for them, and also asks him to bring his album along.
In the evening he attends a ball held by Prince Christian (the later King Christian IX). Quite by chance, HCA had met the prince two days earlier in the street and received the invitation. His choice of clothing for the ball is unfortunate:

"I alone wore black gloves. It bothered me dreadfully"
(the diary).

24 February

Ingemann dies.

4 March

Goes to Sorø for Ingemann's funeral. Arrives in time to see the deceased and witness his vein being cut. Mrs Ingemann relates an account of his final hours. HCA returns to Copenhagen the same evening and attends a ball held by Prince Frederik of Hessen.

5 March

While visiting Einar Drewsen he tells him "about my erotic time" (the diary). HCA is completely engrossed in Scharff at this time. Scharff confides in HCA all his "little secrets of the heart [...] I long for him daily" (the diary, 6th).

8 March

At the Jerichau residence he sees Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann's painting "Havfruen" (The Mermaid) in a new version. The painting is inspired by HCA's fairy-tale and he finds it "quite masterly".

9 March

HCA's commemorative article on Ingemann is printed in 'llustreret Tidende' (along with a picture of the interment). HCA writes:

"What he planted grows, as it has taken root in the hearts of people. His speech added tones to the Danish language, his spirit of patriotism empowers the sword, his pure thought is like the freshness of a sea-breeze!"

HCA then describes him in a manner similar to the dream Ingemann had told him about and which formed the basis of the poem "Den hemmelighedsfulde Port" (The Gate of Secrets), as:

"awoken" from death, and rounds off by saying: "That which must disappear and waft away is now lowered to the grave, accompanied by the peel of church bells, psalms and tears of the heart; that which will never die is with God; that which he planted is with us, a source of joy and blessing".

Mid March

Sits for the sculptor Fr. Chr. Stramboe, who creates a medallion of HCA to be used by C. Møller, the electro metallurgist.

17 March

Visits Prince Christian (the later King Christian IX).

April

Due to the concerts with Alexander Dreyschock, HCA spends some time, also socially, with the violinists Marie and Wilhelmine Neruda (whose brother Franz Neruda is a cellist at the Royal Orchestra) and Anton Rubenstein.

29 April

In an unpublished letter to Mrs Scavenius, HCA mentions what he recently has learned about the circulation of his writing:

"My fairy-tales and stories are a constant source of joy for me; the other day I received from New York the well-known periodical the National Quarterly Review, in which my writing is highly praised and said to be very well received by the American people. Even more significant, however, is the fact that my fairy-tales have also struck a chord in India. Young Hindus have translated some of the best known European writing and I am honoured to be amongst the translated. And, wonderfully, my fairy-tales please the most, especially The Story of a Mother".

30 April

Reads aloud again for the Artists' Association.

15 May

Sits for Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann, who "paints me with a sick child and group of children besides" (the diary). These sittings continued in the following days. She finished the painting in June and took it with her to London to the World Exhibition there. The painting was not sold there however. The price of course was 200 pounds (1,800 rdl.).

2 June

Travels to Basnæs Estate. Stays here until 16th June. Works on new lines which are to be added to Ravnen (The Raven).

16th - 22nd June

At Holsteinborg. Continues to work on the lines for The Raven.

22nd June - 6th July

At Basnæs.

6th - 13th July

At Lerchenborg. The gardener here turns out to be a son of Principle Meisling ("indeed I have carried him in my arms").
Religious discussion with a missionary from Tranquebar, Pastor Knudsen:

"He hurled a load of Bible language which became thorn bushes between myself and the love of God; I said that God's nature made me feel more rejuvenated than a bad sermon. 'But nature does not preach Christianity!' was his answer. I became nervous, did not feel happy or at ease in the presence of this presumptuous man!"
(The diary, 12th).

13th - 17th July

With J.P.E. Hartmann in Roskilde.

1862: Journey to Spain


17th - 23rd July

In Copenhagen, staying at Hotel d'Angleterre.

23 July

Commences the journey to Spain. Before departure, HCA has studied, amongst others, a work titled En Maaned i Spanien (One Month in Spain), from 1848 by the poet Chr. K. F. Molbech. Before leaving, HCA is able to withdraw 1,000 rdl. of his fee from Reitzel for the coming illustrated edition of the fairy-tales. Deposits the money in the bank called Privatbanken. At the farewell he feels like someone returned from the dead, while everyone believes he is long gone.
Travels via Sorø, where he disembarks and takes the bus to see Mrs Ingemann. Continues to Korsør on the same day. From here he travels with Jonas Collin jnr. by ship to Flensburg.

24th - 26th July

In Flensburg. On the 25th, HCA participates - as a guest of the "inner circle" - in the unveiling of the war monument the Isted-Lion.

26 July

They continue via Altona, Göttingen, Frankfurt and Freiburg to Brunnen in Switzerland (arrival 30th July). Edvard, Henriette (Jette) and their daughter Louise Collin are here.

6th - 13th August

With the Collin family in Interlaken. On to Bern on the same day (here from 13th - 15th), then via Fribourg to Montreux.

16th - 30th August

In Montreux, where Jules Jürgensen snr. and family pay him a visit. Whilst here, HCA receives a letter informing him that he is now registered to pay tax of an income of 2,500 rdl. The tax amounts to 50 rdl. (2%) and is a continual source of irritation for him.

30 August

Departure from Montreux, accompanied by Jonas Collin jnr. They travel via Lyon, Nîmes (where HCA visits the baker and poet Jean Reboul) and on to Perpignan on the Spanish border. With him from home, HCA carries an open letter of introduction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to all Danish Consulates in Spain.

6 September

By wagon over the Pyrenees early in the morning, then into Spain at the border town Junqueras:

"It was on the sixth of September when I first arrived in Copenhagen as a child, it was on the sixth of September, many years later, that I first entered Italy, and now, on the same date, same month, Spain would be opened up for me, as fate would have it"
(the travel book I Spanien (In Spain)).

On by coach via Figuera and Gerona. By train from Gerona to Barcelona.

7th - 16th September

In Barcelona, where they are received by the Danish merchant Herman Schierbeck, who is also a bank and railways director (and the brother of the sculptor Christian Schierback, who HCA had met in Roskilde 1st January in the same year).
Whilst here HCA develops a taste for smoking cigars ("which I now enjoy", the diary 8th), when he sits on the balcony and enjoys the Spanish evening. Both real cigars and "paper-cigars, which they all roll by themselves" (In Spain), i.e. cigarettes. HCA had already smoked cigars at the start of the year at home in Copenhagen, when friends had given him some, but had sometimes felt ill from this pass-time.
Beach trip to Barcelonette (where HCA - as mentioned in the diary the 10th - swims in the surf "wearing Spanish bathing trousers").
Goes to see bull-fighting with Schierbeck.
Experiences serious flooding during a cloudburst:

"Never have I thus witnessed the power of water, it was terrible! [...] People fled, crying and shouting. Balconies and roofs were filled with people. Trees and furniture floated in the streets [...] It was said that in the church on the Rambla the priests stood in water up to the waist singing mass"
(In Spain).

17 September

Arrival by ship in Valencia. Here HCA teases Jonas by saying that Vilhelmine Wanscher, who they both know, and whose engagement somewhat offended Jonas, would be a matron even by his [HCA's] standards. Jonas flares up, answering "that was vile and that he, on behalf of humanity, begged to differ" (the diary, same day).

20 September

On by train to Almanza, Alicante, via Elche and Orihuela to Murcia (23rd - 26th). Then on to Cartagena (here from 26th - 29th) and from there to Málaga aboard the propeller steamship Non plus.

30th September - 5th October

In Málaga. Gets a glimpse of the African coast from here. Goes to the bull-fighting once more (5th October), but is now upset by the brutality and atrocity of it. Loses his miniature decorations whilst here. Continues the trip via Loja to Granada.

1862: The Vilh. Pedersen edition


6th - 21st October

In Granada. Sees Alhambra and witnesses the festivities in honour of the arrival of Queen Isabella II in the town. Is invited out to look at ladies and feels his blood churning, as also happened earlier during the stay in Spain.
Reads Søren Kierkegaard's work Begrebet Angest (The Concept of Fear) and is offended by the fact that Kierkegaard labels the genius as unchristian.
Gets into a heated discussion with Jonas Collin on the topic of faith in God and Christianity:

"I then was told in a direct manner about God's expelling of Christianity in favour of the new God Christ"
(the diary, 13th).

7 October

The first booklet of a series of 3 which together make up: H.C. Andersens Eventyr og Historier. Med Illustrationer efter Originaltegninger af V. Pedersen. Første Bind. Med 91 Illustrationer. (Hans Christian Andersen's Tales and Stories. With Illustrations Based on Original Drawings by V. Pedersen. First Volume. Including 91 Illustrations). The following two booklets were released on 3rd November and 15th December. This, as well as the second volume (1863), includes all the fairy-tales and stories illustrated by Vilh. Pedersen, in chronological order.

21 October

Return via Loja to Málaga, where they stay from 22nd - 29th October.

30 October

Arrival by ship to Gibralter. Receives a letter from Sir John Drummond Hay, English Consulate General and Danish Consul to the empire of Morocco, who is married to the sister of Georg Carstensen. The letter invites them to stay with the Drummond Hay family when they arrive in Tangier.

2 November

They sail to Morocco, to Tangier and ride out to Ravensrock, the country house of Sir Drummond Hay. They are the guests of the consul both here and in Tangier. The consul is their guide to the Pascha. An invitation is received to visit the home of a rich Jewish family.

9 November

Aboard the French steam-powered battleship 'Titan' to Cádix.

13 November

Via Jeres to Sevilla, where on the first evening in the town he is inspired to write a poem about the cigar! Here he meets the Swedish painter E.S. Lundgren and the Scottish painter John Phillip, who bring him along to the Art Academy. One of the halls is home to 24 works by the painter Murillo from Sevilla. HCA is very impressed with Murillo and thinks more highly of him than of Rubens:

"Like Southern sunlight from the world of spirits [...] No-one outdoes him. Every one of these paintings is a great pleasure to behold"
(In Spain).

Does not get to see the tobacco factory but notes in his travel journal that:

" Snuff from the Seville factory rains and snows over the entire peninsula; five hundred people, mostly women, work in that great tobacco tin".

Is worried about talk of cholera.

22 November

By train to Cordoba. On to Madrid on 25th.

26th November - 2nd December

In Madrid. Visits the poet and literary historian Juan Hartzenbusch.

2 December

To Toledo. Return to Madrid on 7th December.

7th - 19th December

In Madrid. Goes to the bull-fighting once again, as Jonas wishes to see it. Would have preferred to spend the money going to the opera.
Is introduced to the Duke of Rivas, who is a politician and writer, by the Swedish Ambassador Bergman. Sees the Real museum.
Goes to see a translator by the name of Jacobo Zobel de Zangroniz, who works for a magazine in Madrid. Zobel wishes to write a piece about HCA's stay there, and HCA takes the opportunity to suggest he translate "The Story of a Mother" for the magazine. In Madrid, as elsewhere in Spain, HCA meets only a few people who have heard of him, and then only through English or German translations. The young Zobel, who HCA spends some time with during the last few days in Madrid, wishes to write about his life.
Visits, whilst in Madrid, La exposicion nacional de bellas artes de 1862. There he sees, amongst other things, a statue of the recently deceased politician and poet, Martinez de las Rosas, who had lived in exile in Paris for some time. HCA had met him there in 1843 and had been looking forward to seeing hem again during the visit to Spain.

19 December

Via St. Chidrian to Búrgas, where they lodge in a hotel where the girls are very brash towards them, as though it were a brothel:

"The girls in this house are quite like prostitutes, they almost threw themselves at Jonas and I, laid their hands on us, had many excuses and would stop at nothing to please us".
(the diary, 20th).

The travelling companions find the winter weather gruelling.

22 December

On from Búrgos through San Sebastián and Irún into France to Bayonne.

23rd - 27th December

In Bayonne, where they spend Christmas at the hotel with cake, champagne and cognac. A wax candle from Rome is placed in the champagne bottle and serves as their Christmas tree. In the window of a book-store, HCA sees a copy of his work Billedbog uden Billeder (Picture Book without Pictures), as well as a book by Oehlenschläger. Departure from Bayonne on 27th-29th for an outing to Biarritz. The trip continues on 29th via Bayonne to Dax and on to Bordeaux.

30 December

Arrival in Bordeaux, where they celebrate the New Year, once more with champagne and cake. Here, as had also been the case earlier on during the trip, HCA is very displeased with his young companion:

"From him I never receive any thanks, although surely from his parents"
(the diary, 29th).

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