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

1871


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 1871

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 He describes the occasion in an unpublished letter dated 15th December to Mrs Scavenius at Basnæs;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".

Search the timetable    ?