H.C. Andersen letters online

More than 8800 letters and musings that belonged to Denmark’s most well-known author are transcribed and now online for all to view.

More than 8800 letters and musings that belonged to Denmark’s most well-known author are transcribed and now online for all to view. The letters, taken from his archive, will be the first of around 11,400 which will be available to view.

Senior Curator Ejnar Stig Askgaard, who is involved in the project, said the publication of the letters will shed light on the author’s private life.

‘This material will give us a much clearer picture of Hans Christian Andersen for, despite knowing so much about him, there still exist many myths about him being dyslexic, as well as rumours about his health and sexual proclivities,’ he said.

In addition to publishing the material, a database will be created so that users can cross reference H.C. Andersen’s written records with other information, such as online encyclopaedia entries.

‘The database will be a tool which, in combination with his diaries will make it possible to follow HC Andersen from day to day for his whole adult life.’ Askgaard told Berlingske Tidende newspaper.

About 20 percent of the letters and records have never been seen before – a factor that Askgaard is anticipating with excitement.

'If there is something unheard of before in one of these letters then of course we will be terribly interested,’ he said.

The letters are published as a collaborative effort between Odense City Museum and the H.C. Andersen Centre at the University of Southern Denmark. You can see the website here.