Country Denmark Publisher Reitzels Forlag Published in English 1847 Originally published 1835 Genre Autobiographical Fiction Translator Mary Howitt | Language Danish Publication date 1835 Media type Print Original title Improvisatoren Published in english 1847 | |
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Similar The Tinderbox, A Poet's Bazaar, Fairy Tales Told for Children, The Two Baronesses, The Most Incredible Thing | ||
Excerpts from the story of my life and the improvisatore by hans christian andersen
The Improvisatore (Danish: Improvisatoren) is an autobiographical novel by Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875). First published in 1835, it was an immediate success and is considered to be Andersen's breakthrough. The story, reflecting Andersen's own travels in Italy in 1833, reveals much about his own life and aspirations as experienced by Antonio, the novel's principal character.
Contents
- Excerpts from the story of my life and the improvisatore by hans christian andersen
- Background
- Plot
- Editions
- References
Excerpts from the story of my life and the improvisatore by hans christian andersen
Background
In September 1833, with financial support from Danish well-wishers, Andersen embarked on a cultural trip to Italy. Deeply impressed with everything he experienced and influenced by Madame de Staël's "Corinne ou l'Italie", he began writing his travel tale, The Improvisatore. It was published by Reitzels Forlag in 1835. An immediate success and Andersen's breakthrough, the following year it was published in Germany and, in 1838, in France. For many years, The Improvisatore was the most widely read of all of Andersen's works.
Plot
In this fictionalized autobiography, the hero Antonio does not arrive as a tourist but grows up in Italy, thus able to show not just the sunny side of life but also some of its shadows. In its structure, the novel reflects Andersen's own life and his travels through Italy. The descriptions of the Italian towns and regions are particularly captivating, expressed in the author's colourful language. Like Andersen himself, Antonio comes from a poor background but fights his way through various crises and amorous relationships until he is finally successful. The last improvisation involves a fishing boat accident in which many lose their lives. But finally Antonio becomes the happy husband of the beautiful young Lara as well as a landowner in Calabria.