From the Hans Christian Andersen biography "The Life of Hans Christian Andersen. Day By Day", written by DPhil Johan de Mylius:
1867
Journey to Paris and SwitzerlandIs Appointed Titular Councillor of State
Another Journey to Paris
Honorary Citizen in Odense
1867: Journey to Paris and Switzerland
In this year
Release of a "complete collection" in Russian of HCA's fairy-tales, including 117 illustrations based on woodcuts (2nd edition, St. Petersburg).
4 January
Travels to Basnæs.
11 January
Returns to Copenhagen.
January
The literary topic of conversation at this time is a work titled Breve fra Helvede (Letters from Hell), which are released under a pseudonym (M. Rowel). During the year there are 3 editions printed and HCA is very absorbed by the book (in which he finds details reminiscent of his own fairy-tales). The author pays HCA a visit on 14th and it turns out to be the priest, Valdemar Thisted.
25 January
Reads aloud for ladies at the Workers' Association.
7 February
Has bought for himself from England the
"Beautiful, new illustrated edition of my fairy-tales, for which Dulken is responsible" [translator H.W. Dulcken].
(the diary, same day)
Hears that Professor Rasmus Nielsen had lectured on the subject "the wish" on the previous day. Amongst other references, the professor had used HCA's "Lykkens Kalosker" (The Galoshes of Fortune) as a point of departure.
14 February
The painter F.C. Lund draws a portrait of HCA whilst he is reading aloud in the midst of the Melchior family. He gives it to Mrs Melchior.
2 March
Reads aloud at the Students' Association.
11 April
Departure from Copenhagen. Has withdrawn 500 rdl. for the travel expenses. Overnights in Odense on 12th. Goes for a walk along the river with Bishop Engelstoft and lunches with him. Continues via Hamburg, Hannover, Cologne to Paris.
15th April - 9th May
In Paris. Here he spends time with the somewhat rakish Robert Watt, who:
"told me many wild, sensuous stories. My insight into Parisian life was greatly increased"
(the diary, 17th).
Seeks out Frøhlich the painter, regarding some illustrations for the fairy-tales. Also spends time with Jules Jürgensen from Le Locle and N.E. Hofman-Bang, titular councillor of state, from Hofmansgave. Goes to see the World Exhibition several times.
5 May
Is so sexually excited by the stories told by Robert Watt that he goes to a brothel:
"After having dinner I walked about in unfulfilled desire, then went suddenly up to a shop which traded in human beings. One was painted with powder, the other plain looking, a third quite a lady. I spoke with her, paid 12 francs and left without having sinned in action, but probably in thought. She asked me to come again, said that I seemed to be very innocent for a gentleman. I felt so light and happy when I emerged from this house. Many would call me a spineless fellow, am I this here? In the evening I wandered about on the boulevard and saw painted ladies sitting in the coffee shops, playing cards, drinking beer and chartreuse"
(the diary, same day).
1 May
A party is held in honour of HCA at the Palais Royal, arranged by the Scandinavian Society.
9 May
Departure from Paris, via Dijon to Neuchâtel.
11th - 14th May
At Neuchâtel.
1867: Is Appointed Titular Councillor of State
14th - 27th May
Staying with Jules Jürgensen the watch-maker, in Le Locle
26 May
On the silver wedding anniversary of the king and queen, HCA is appointed titular Councillor of State (3rd rank; e.g. when there is a banquet at the castle, the first three ranks are invited).
27th - 30th May
Is in Bern. Goes on an outing from here to Interlaken.
30 May
Departure from Bern, travelling via Freiburg and Frankfurt (on the train, he avoids meeting the Grand Duke of Weimar, as the national issue is still a problem for HCA). On through Kassel to Hamburg.
2nd - 5th June
In Hamburg. Here he visits the painter Anton Melbye, at his studio.
5 June
Departs Hamburg, headed for Fredericia. In Denmark he is constantly greeted with the title 'Mr Councillor of State':
"it was as though the new title had bewitched my country"
(the diary, 5th).
Stops in Odense on the same day. Overnights here and has lunch on 6th with a small group of people at the home of Bishop Engelstoft. Is made to promise to return during summer, so the town might honour him.
Thus there is much to suggest that is was the appointment as titular councillor of state which prompted Odense town to the idea of making HCA an honorary citizen. This must also be seen in the light of a long-standing wish to reestablish the town's connection with HCA, after he had become so famous.
7 June
Arrival in Copenhagen. Goes on an outing to Klampenborg on 12th.
10 June
Is granted an audience at Fredensborg Castle, where he is able to give thanks for the title received.
13th June - 15th July
Staying with the Melchior family at Rolighed. Here he cuts and glues (3rd July) "the second lampshade", as he puts it in the diary. Takes part in an outing to Hellebæk (visiting the Collins' in their small house, dinner at Marienlyst) and also to Klampenborg (lunch with Jules Jürgensen).
16 July
Departure from Copenhagen to Sorø, where he stays with Mrs Ingemann. It is almost impossible to communicate with her.
18th - 27th July
At Basnæs Estate.
27th July - 7th August
At Glorup Estate. Outings from here to Lundsgård Estate and Lundeborg. Sees Mrs Heiberg, who is visiting the Langes at Ørbæklunde, and goes for a walk with her which lasts more than an hour and a half, showing her around in the park at Glorup.
Odense seems to be in no rush to celebrate HCA, as he is not in the town at all during this stay on the island Funen, in spite of Bishop Engelstoft having urged HCA to return during the summer, so that Odense could make him an honorary citizen.
7th - 21st August
At Holsteinborg. Here he reads aloud from his fairy-tales for the workers on the estate.
1867: Another Journey to Paris
21 August
Return to Copenhagen. Goes on an outing to Hellebæk to visit the Collin family. Meets Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.
1 September
Sets of for Paris accompanied by Robert Watt (Melchior had contributed 300 rdl. to the journey). They sail from Korsør to Kiel, then through Hamburg, Hannover, Frankfurt and Strasbourg to Paris.
7th - 22nd September
In Paris. Visits the World Exhibition once again. Goes with Robert Watt to a brothel, but does not, once again, go beyond talking with:
"the poor child, who I felt sorry for and who was surprised that I only wanted to talk with her" (the diary, 10th).
22 September
Departure from Paris, through Épernay and Kehl to Baden-Baden, Kassel, Hamburg, Fredericia and Odense. In Odense he visits Bishop Engelstoft and is made to promise he will return in November, enabling the town to carry out the celebration which they have decided to honour him with. Then continues home to Copenhagen.
30 September
Back in Copenhagen. Here he spends time with Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.
25 October
Goes to Basnæs Estate, where a large wedding is held for Lucie Scavenius and Carl Castenschiold.
1 November
Returns to Copenhagen. HCA gives a vivid description of the trip back in an (unpublished) letter to Mrs Scavenius:
"The trip home was fairly slow; we left Slagelse at 12.30 and did not arrive in Copenhagen until 5.30 in the evening, in other words, five whole hours for that route which had only taken two last summer. The stops at each station took forever. Unfortunately it was the first of November and a great number of servants were headed for service; they had with them monstrous chests, drawers and cupboards. It was like a set-up for a moving day. The rain poured down and it took ages, as the expression goes, to get hold of one's clothes at the railway station. What's more, the carriages were terribly hard and narrow, never before had I travelled in a second-class carriage like that".
Is invited by Bishop Engelstoft to come to Odense on 28th November and be celebrated on 30th. In mid November it is leaked through the newspapers on Funen that HCA is to be an honorary citizen of Odense, and be given the freedom of the town. HCA then receives a letter from the Odense municipal authorities about this matter. He then postpones the arrangement until 6th December. The newspapers write that the prophecy about how the town would one day be lit up for him - as mentioned in Mit Livs Eventyr (The Fairy Tale of My Life) - would now come true.
1867: Honorary Citizen in Odense
December
Act 2 and 3 of HCA's text to an opera, Kong Saul (King Saul), is printed in Fra danske Forfattere. Digte og Skizzer (From Danish Authors. Poems and Sketches), which is released by Chr. Richardt.
5 December
Leaves for Odense, overnighting in Korsør. (During the trip, and generally speaking of late, he has a lot of trouble with his false teeth). Stays with Bishop Engelstoft in Odense.
In a letter to Henriette Collin (same day), HCA describes the reception in Odense and the forthcoming arrangements as follows:
"I wish tomorrow was over and done with. It is, I suppose, a bright and notable day in my life, but thinking about it makes me feel upset [...] I wonder why so much joy and honour is granted me? It's almost alarming".
6th December.
At the town hall, in the morning, HCA is proclaimed honorary citizen. The schools are closed for the day to mark the occasion. A large gala dinner is held at the town hall in the evening, with 240 guests. The royal family send a telegram to congratulate and there is a deputation from the Association of Work and Industry. Flags are raised throughout the town, there is a torchlight procession and while when he appears at the window of the town hall, HCA is met with song and a nine-fold hurrah from the crowd on the square below.
On the following days, dinners are held for HCA by the mayor, the bishop (where there are 130 guests) and by the dean.
Goes with the bishop to see the charity school, which he had gone to himself, as well as Lahns Foundation and the childhood home.
11 December
Is back in Copenhagen. Senses some envy with regards to the celebration held for him in Odense:
"Some had taken comfort, so to speak, in the belief that it [the celebrations] surely had not been as great as the papers reported. Others felt that Christian Winther really ought to have suchlike, rather than I. But he was not, after all, born in Odense, was my answer"
(the diary, 21st).
But Paludan-Müller and Bjørnson congratulate him heartily on the honour bestowed.
Bjørnson tells him (20th Dec.) that Grundtvig and he (HCA) are:
"the two true poets of the people, absorbed by the public. Other poets may, to be sure, provide a scent"
(the diary).
12 December
Release of Femten Eventyr og Historier. Ny Udgave. Med Illustrationer af Lorenz Frølich (Fifteen Tales and Stories. New Edition. Illustrated by Lorenz Frølich) (all the texts are reprinted). Also release of Kjendte og Glemte Digte (1823-1867) (Known and Forgotten Poems).
24 December
Celebrates Christmas first with the Koch family (Ida Koch is the daughter of Admiral Wulff), then with the Henriques and the Jerichaus.
31st December.
HCA's assets amount to 14,150 rdl. In 1867, 450 rdl. were earned in interest and 45 rdl. were paid in tax.
31 December
Spends New Years Eve with the English ambassador, Sir Charles Murray.
"Left Muries before eleven, ate at home, listening to the New Year's firecrackers, and now the year 1867 draws to a close, the year which has brought me most honour and been the most changeable for me [...] I am now titular Councillor of State and in Odense I have experienced a tribute which stands amongst the rarest in this world [...] Lord my God, my only God, thank you for the year that passed. What might, dare, will and shall the new one bring; I pray thee Lord, give me the strength to bear it, do not let go of me!-"
(the diary, same day).