The Improvisatore

The Improvisatore
Title page of the first English edition
Author	Hans Christian Andersen
Original title	Improvisatoren
Translator	Mary Howitt
Country	Denmark
Language	Danish
Genre	Autobiographical novel
Publisher	Reitzels Forlag
Publication date	1835
Published in English	1847
Media type	Print

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.

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.^[1] For many years, The Improvisatore was the most widely read of all of Andersen's works.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[1]

Editions

Andersen, Hans Christian (1835). Improvisatoren, Original Roman i to Dele. Copenhagen: Reitzels Forlag.
Andersen, Hans Christian; Howitt, Mary (translator) (1847). "The Improvisatore: or, Life in Italy". London: R. Bentley. Retrieved 20 April 2010.

References

1 2 "H. C. Andersen: Improvisatoren (1835)", Epoke – danske romaner før 1900. (Danish) Retrieved 18 April 2010.
↑ "Hans Christian Andersen, 1805 – 1875". Scandinavica.com. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
↑ "Improvisatoren af H. C. Andersen", LitteraturSiden.dk (Danish) Retrieved 20 April 2010.

Hans Christian Andersen

Bibliography

Collections	Fairy Tales Told for Children (1835–1837) Fairy Tales Told for Children (1838) New Fairy Tales (1843/44)

Stories	"The Angel" "The Elf Mound" "The Emperor's New Clothes" "The Fir-Tree" "The Flying Trunk" "The Galoshes of Fortune" "The Garden of Paradise" "The Goblin and the Grocer" "Golden Treasure" "The Ice-Maiden" "The Little Match Girl" "The Little Mermaid" "The Most Incredible Thing" "The Nightingale" "Ole Lukøje" "The Princess and the Pea" "The Red Shoes" "The Shadow" "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep" "The Snow Queen" "The Snowman" "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" "The Story of a Mother" "The Sweethearts; or, The Top and the Ball" "The Swineherd" "The Tallow Candle" "The Teapot" "Thumbelina" "The Tinderbox" "The Ugly Duckling" "The Wild Swans"

Novels	The Improvisatore (1835) The Two Baronesses (1848)

Films	Hans Christian Andersen (1952) The Daydreamer (1966) Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale (2001 miniseries)

Related	Hans Christian Andersen Museum Pleated Christmas hearts International Children's Book Day Hans Christian Andersen Award Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award

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