The Improvisatore: A Novel of Italy

(Paperback)

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Published to great acclaim in 1835, Hans Christian Andersen's debut novel,The Improvisatore, initially eclipsed his fairy tales, which first appeared in the same year. This first English translation since the 1840s captures the brilliance and brio, the sweep and the nuance that madeThe Improvisatoreone of Hans Christian Andersen's most widely read and best loved works.

Reviews

"Frank Huguss spright translation of The Improvisatore, a neglected autobiographical novel written by the fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, brings it to life and reveals unusual aspects of Andersen's writings. Though somewhat outdated as a Bildungsroman, this novel reveals aspects of Andersen's life that demonstrate how he viewed himself as a determined young artist about to succeed on the world's stage."Jack Zipes, author of Tales of Wonder: Retelling Fairy Tales through Picture Postcards

Author Bio

Hans Christian Andersen (18051875) was a Danish author best known for his fairy tales, including The Emperors New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, and The Ugly Duckling. He was also a prolific writer of novels, plays, travel books, and poetry.

Frank Hugus has taught Scandinavian and German at the University of Massachusetts Amherst since 1970 and has translated three novels by the Danish author Hans Scherfig in addition to dozens of short stories by contemporary Danish writers. He has published scholarly articles on Hans Christian Andersens novels and plays.