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

1848


1 October

Moves to Nyhavn 67, 2nd floor, lodging with Johs. Anholm, a ship master, and later (after 1860) with Anholm's widow.

25 November

Release of De to Baronesser (The Two Baronesses) in Danish. The book provides a general description of Denmark over a period of almost 100 years, from the oppression of the peasants to the enlightened and more humane conditions in the 1830's. The book reflects HCA's optimism regarding progress and his desire for a more flexible society marked by solidarity. The book is thus an emphatic memento from the period preceding the most significant political event of the time: the constitutional reform.

December

Release of Gesammelte Märchen (German: Collected Fairy-tales), including 112 illustrations from woodcuts based on Vilhelm Pedersen's original drawings owned by Lorck.
It was Lorck who had taken the initiative to produce this large edition with new illustrations. The drawings of Vilh. Pedersen were carved in wood at Ed. Kretzmar's workshop in Leipzig. For a later Danish version, Reitzel is obliged to pay Lorck for the use of the plates (blocks). During this process of publication, HCA mediates between Lorck on the one hand and Vilh. Pedersen and Reitzel on the other.
Vilh. Pedersen was sublieutenant in the Navy, but had, in 1843, at the suggestion of King Christian VIII, been granted a 4 year leave of absence for the purpose of artistic training. He became an apprentice to Marstrand and made his debut in 1847 at the spring exhibition at Charlottenborg, which HCA had been to see on 4th April. Pedersen produced 3 preliminary illustrations for "Svinedrengen" (The Swineherd), which HCA recommended to Lorck as "beautifully and brilliantly executed" (letter of 25th April, 1847). On behalf of Pedersen, HCA proposed that Lorck pay 300 rdl. for the drawings, providing Pedersen retained the right to publish them in Denmark also.

18 December

Performance at the Royal Theatre of: Kunstens Dannevirke. Forspil ved det kongelige Theaters hundredeaars Fest 1848 (The Art of Dannevirke. Prelude to the Centennial Celebration of the Royal Theatre 1848). Is performed 8 times. The title is suggestive of war-time artistic mobilisation.

Approx. 20th December

Meets Fredrika Bremer upon her arrival to Copenhagen on her first visit to Denmark.

23 December

By train and coach to Bregentved Estate for Christmas. Here there are two Christmas trees decorated with Danish flags - in the spirit of national mobilisation. - Reads part two of Adam Homo extensively. En Nat i Roskilde (A Night in Roskilde) is performed for the Christmas entertainment at Bregentved on 25th.

25 December

Casino reopens, now as Copenhagen's first private theatre. H.W. Lange, formerly director of Odense Theatre, had rented the building in Amaliegade and was the manager of the theatre. The fact that he was able to get started - unlike Overskou - had to do with his practical theatre management experience and the fact that he was well connected. From his time in Odense he knew Frederik VII and Louise Rasmussen (Countess Danner). He had the bandstand converted to a stage, thereby making it possible to produce what the issued license permitted, namely popular comedies, farces, musical comedies and pantomimes (preferential treatment of the Royal Theatre means that Lange is not permitted to stage actual serious drama). Heiberg and Hertz both dissociate themselves from the Casino theatre (Hertz via the polemic comedy Hundrede Aar (One Hundred Years), where he describes it as a theatre for "The people, peasants, citizens and coachmen").

31 December

Re-launching of the vaudeville: En Comedie i det Grønne (A Comedy Out in the Open Air), based on L.A. Dorvigny (see 18th October 1847). Is performed 27 times during HCA's life.

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