Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Hans Christian Andersen!

When researching last week's episode, I came across so much fun stuff about its author, Hans Christian Andersen. This week I am covering everything that couldn't fit in last week's episode. We'll talk about Andersen's romantic life, where or not he was gay, and of course the wild vacation he took at Charles Dickens' country home.

Transcript

Welcome back to myths in movies. I’m Erin and ——

Thank you for joining us as we dive into our favorite movies and learn about fairies, trolls, any kind of mythical monster or folklore. 

This week I thought we would do a little something different. Instead of talking about one tale, I thought we could focus on a person whose name seems to mean fairy tales.

S: Hans Christian Anderson?

E: Yep. Now this episode is based on a wonderful tweet thread by Dana Schwartz of the podcast Noble Blood.  She basically was talking about why are people so focused on the little mermaid being black? Let’s talk about the super weird author and his really weird vacation at Charles Dicken’s house.

S: I think I sent you this and I remember it being amazing.

E: I should say that it is has been suggested Andersen was on the autism spectrum. However, that does not excuse his insane behavior.

S: Are you going to give us a little background on him?

E: Sure! But first, a campfire tale.

Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived in a small, downtrodden Danish village. His name was Hans Christian and he was born to a hard washer woman and a dreamy father. Hans gravitated to his father who loved nothing more than to take long walks in the forest while searching for trolls and fairies. They pretended they were in an enchanted forest, next to a castle. In reality, they were on the outskirts of a town where the acrid smell of sewers burned their noses and the blink of the red light district kept them awake at night.

Hans was very smart and his mother had high hopes when she sent him to school. Unfortunately, he spent most of his time inventing stories and reenacting them with puppets. His mother hated the stories because she knew that they would never pay the bills. In an effort to give him a skill, she sent him to apprentice with successful men, but nothing ever stuck.

At 14, Hans Christian decided he had enough of village life and bullying, so he traveled to Copenhagen to make his way in the world. Luckily, he had a wonderful voice and soon attracted wealthy patrons who supported his life. Hans Christian played a character, a type of naïve waif, and they lapped it up. Eventually Hans Christian was able to get enough money to write. His stories were not well received in London, but they were very popular back in Denmark. While writing his stories, Hans Christian would fall into dream like states. He would find someone, imagine a whole life with them, and then profess his love. Unfortunately, this person usually didn’t know Hans Christian very well and politely decline his advances.

When Hans Christian died at the age of 70 of liver cancer, he had all the fame, respect and money he could ask for. Unfortunately, he never did find love.

The End.

S: Wowza.

E: There’s a lot I didn’t include that I would like to mention now.

S: Ooo good. But first, how true is all of that?

E: Hans Christian loved to lie. He saw his life as yet another story that he made up, so he wrote something like four different autobiographies which are all different.

S: Wow. So the town that he lived in? Not a quaint little Danish fishing village?

E: Nope. It is actually the 3rd largest city in Denmark. It had the same problems as most Victorian era towns. Lots of poor people, sanitation issues, big red light district that was not safe. Etc. 

S: So he wanted out?

E: He sure did. Which it’s hard to blame him. His mother had a serious drinking problem, she worked really hard, doing laundry and cleaning for the rich. She was probably abusive towards Hans. His father was a nervous sort of guy, who probably suffered from PTSD from the war. He constantly told Hans that he was the long lost son of a noble.

S: Uh oh.

E: Ya, this came back to bite Hans. As a child, he had a crush on a girl, Sara. She flirted with him and then, Hans being the effeminate dork he labeled himself as later, he told that he was royalty and on his 18th birthday, his real family would find him and he would go to live in a castle. And if she liked, she could work there as a milk maid.

S: Oh Hans.

E: Sara, the little girl, was not impressed. And she said something like, he’s as mad as his grandfather.

S: Oh was his grandfather crazy?

E: Yep. The last known sighting of him was when he put a crown made of thorns and paper on his head and ran into the woods as children chased him.

S: Oh my.

E: Yep. So for most of Hans’s life, he was sure that he would either die penniless, like his sister who was a sex worker and died on the street, or die crazy like his grandfather.

S: Wow. That is so much for one family.

E: It is. But he made his way to Copenhagen, impressed some rich people with his voice and they sent him to a good school. That Hans later said was the darkest life of his life because he was abused by the kids and the schoolmaster.

S: Oh no. Why?

E: Well he was odd. Very flowery, as he put it, very woman like. And kids just were terrible to him.

S: Awful.

E: Speaking of woman like. I said on a previous episode that he was probably gay.

S: I remember.

E: I’ve read a lot where scholars kind of imagine this great tragic tale of him being gay and not being able to be out or able to find someone he loved. But I don’t think that’s accurate. It is really unclear what his sexual orientation was.

S: What do you mean?

E: Hans was at his core, a dreamer. And he would sort of latch on to people and then concoct these elaborate fantasies. For instance, it is has been speculated that the little mermaid was written as a sort of allegory of his relationship with another man.  They were in love but Edward was going to get married. And so the little mermaid doesn’t end up with her love either.

S: Right, I think you talked about this when we talked about Mermaids.

E: I did. And I thought it was just a neat little story that I didn’t do much follow up. Turns out, Edward was deeply in love with his fiancée and was just sort of friends with Hans. And he felt bad that he couldn’t return those feelings but he was also kind of surprised because he didn’t think they had that kind of relationship.

S: Oh Hans.

E: See, it’s easy to feel sorry for him but he does this stuff over and over again. He also falls for women. There’s a woman named Jenny Lind, who was a very famous opera singer. He proposed to her in a letter and she was like, I wish you happiness, my dear brother.

S: Oh so she was like, let’s be friends.

E: Yep. and then he supposedly made into the character the snow queen where she is the antihero.

S: Hm. So did ever have any relationships?

E: He was close with a male ballet dancer but that guy broke it off, whatever it was. The HC Andersen Center in Denmark states that Hans never had any sexual relationships and that was a deep part of who he was.

S: So he just kind of wanted to live in a fantasy where it’s all flowery letters and stolen glances, but not an actual relationship.

E: Right. So it’s asexual but not aromantic?

S: Hm. Did he ever have sexual relationships?

E: No. He did go to several brothels in an attempt to have sex. He would pay, watch the woman undress while chatting nervously and then he would run out of the room. 

S: At least he paid.

E: I guess. I do think he had some weird hang ups about sex. That he thought sex corrupted you and you wouldn’t be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

S: I mean, I’ve heard worse.

E: Anyway, let’s talk about the famous weekend at Dickens.

S: I’m so excited. So how did that go down? Like how did they become friends in the first place? Or maybe Andersen got his number and just started calling?

E: Well, both men wrote a lot of letters so we have a pretty good idea of what went down.

S: Okay, I’m excited.

E: So they met at a party as Andersen is becoming famous. And he had been a big fan of Dickens for years. He manages to keep it together but he does let out his fan girl side when he says, you’re the greatest writer of our time.

S: What did Dickens say?

E: He thought it was a bit much, but he was flattered. How could you not be?

S: I think listeners will do well to remember Dickens was not a good guy. Yes, he advocated for the poor in his books, but his personal life was a nightmare.

E: Right. He was with his wife, had ten children, and then she turned thirty. And he wasn’t that into her anymore.

S: Oh gosh.

E: So he didn’t want any more kids after the fourth one. His guiding principle in life was that poor people were poor because they had too many kids.

S: Well that’s not her fault. It takes two to tango.

E: And he was wealthy enough, he could have bought a condom. Yes, one, because that’s how it was used.

Note: sheep gut, dried, placed, tied with ribbon, washed and stored until needed again.

S: Oh man. 

Begin 

E: He was so worried about more children that he had affairs. Which makes no sense. He slept with a lot of women, including his wife’s younger sister. He and his wife did have more children, and then he was like okay, she’s gotta go. He tried to have her committed to an insane asylum.

S: Which as a Victorian gentlemen could absolutely do.

E: Yep. Luckily the doctor there was like, um, no. He’s really the hero of the story. He was good friends with Dickens but he was a devout Quaker and just couldn’t morally justify putting her away.

S: Dickens! So awful.

E: The couple later separated, I don’t know how you make up after one person tries to imprison the other  one.

S: Well didn’t he take custody of all the kids so he wouldn’t have to pay his ex wife? And then shack up with an 18 year old?

E: He sure did.

S: Oh gosh.

E: Anyhoodle- I’m so glad that Andersen picked Dickens to annoy.

S: Let’s hear it.

End 

E: So they pair has met, and Andersen does his normal thing of total infatuation. He is giddy and writes to all his friends that he and Dickens are BFF now and omg, he was even cooler in person. And Dickens sent him some books and a personal note. So Anderson is like, oh okay, I’m in, we are best friends, my life rules.

S: Ha.

E: For the next nine years, Anderson sends Dickens letters. All fawning, all like, when we can we get together?

S: Oh no.

E: Finally, Dickens sends a really weird, really passive aggressive note back and is like, oh sure, you can come stay any time.

S: And Anderson is like, great, I’m on the next flight out.

E: Exactly. Anderson shows up Dicken’s country house, Gad’s Hill out in Kent.

S: Oh no.

E: He even says, this gives me second hand embarrassment because it’s just so earnest.

S: Tell me. I’ll cover my ears.

E: He writes this in a letter to Dickens. “My visit is for you alone,” he wrote. “Above all, always leave me a small corner in your heart.”

S: Oh my gosh. I know that people were more flowery in their writing then. But this feels- excessive.

E: It does. This is not related, but whenever I hear “flowery language”, I think of John Oliver mocking Dr Oz when Oz says he uses flowery language on his show. And I have a clip, https://youtu.be/WA0wKeokWUU?t=737

S: You’re going to edit this out aren’t you?

E: For sure. Anyway- Hans Christian is at the house, all ready for his sleepover.

S: And Dickens was thrilled.

E: This was actually a not great time for him. His latest book, Little Dorrit, was not doing well and he was in the midst of trying to leave/commit his wife.

S: Oh no.

E: So that’s what Hans is walking into.

S: Oh no. And Anderson acts super weird.

E: He does. He gets really offended when Dicken’s eldest son won’t shave his face? And he’s like oh it’s the Danish custom. And Dickens is like, um, okay, let me make you an appointment at the barber.

S: Is this really a custom?

E: I tried finding anything about this. I could not. Maybe the Danish are keeping the custom under their hat, because I have no idea. Mostly I just found stuff about men shaving their beard as like a rite of manhood. Their first shave, blah blah.

S: Hm.

E: I have no idea what Anderson was talking about.

S: I can’t think of anything even similar.

E: I don’t know either.  

S: Moving on- I think my favorite is when Dickens has a dinner party and he offers his arm to a young lady. So Anderson grabs the arm and walks arm in arm with him into the party.

E: This is like Michael Scott level of deluded.

S: It is. Or a horror movie where a guest will not leave.

E: Oh it gets worse. So- Anderson was a country mouse. And when they went to London, he was sure he was going to be pickpocketed.

S: I mean, so was I.

E: But did you get in a cab, then watch your cabbie go on a circuitous route because of traffic and  then become convinced you would be robbed and murdered?

S: No!

E: So Hans did. And he stuffed all his belongings out the window, including his boots, watch, pen knife, and books. And then walked home.

S: I’m sure Dickens was impressed.

E: I think he was thrilled to get out of the house. Because- our boy Hans was a crafter. He’s constantly grabbing paper and cutting little hearts or shapes out of them. His other favorite thing was to go into the woods and pick little bouquets.

S: Oh no. This is charming when you are a child.

E: It gets worse. One time, he made a daisy chain and put it on Wilkie Collin’s hat. (Wilkie Collins being of course the father of the modern detective book)

Who didn’t see the flowers until he noticed everyone laughing at him.

S: I never want this story to be over.

E: We’re not done- so not only was Andersen weird, he had some weird emotional displays.

S: Say more about that.

E: So they went to a play written by Wilkie Collins and Dickens in the lead role. Queen Victoria was there too- the place was jumping. Hans Christian bursts into tears several times, so loudly that the other members of the audience glared at him.

S: Was he just like, Dickens is so amazing in this role?

E: I guess? Who knows. So after he loudly sobs during the play, he tries to get attention after the play. Making a big deal of introducing himself to others and nobody cares.

S: Ouch. Especially because I’m sure he wanted to show to Dickens too, like hey look, I’m a big deal too!

E: Totally. But it doesn’t work out. So he sulked for DAYS about it.

S: Oh no.

E: On top of that, some piece he wrote came out and he got one bad review. And guess he handled it?

S: Like a mature adult. Went for a long walk in the woods.

E: Not at all. He threw himself on the front lawn and sobbed.  

S: so a full on tantrum?

E: What else would you call it? It’s fine to be emotional, whatever, feel your feelings. Do not throw yourself onto the ground, banging your fists and sobbing. That is for children who are learning to regulate their emotions.

S: I mean I kind of get it, sometimes emotions are completely overwhelming.

E: Agreed. However, this is for alone time. Not okay behavior for a house guest.

S: I think this is the worst of his actions. I mean, the other stuff is generally harmless. So he took your arm at dinner. It’s weird, but harmless.

E: I agree. That’s why I love this story so much. Everything Hans Christian does is harmless, just inconvenient. No one gets hurt and it just annoyed Dickens so who cares.

S: His real crime is staying past his welcome. How long did he end up staying?

E: Five weeks.

S: That is long.

Begin

E: It is. although, my neighbor loves to have people around, so he invited his brother in law and their family to stay with him for three months while their house is being renovated.

S: That is nice. Unlike dickens.

E: Dickens is such an asshole. He even made fun of Hans Christian’s accent!

S: That is such a dick move. What’s he supposed to do about his accent?

E: Well, here is a quote from one of Dickens’s letters.

“He spoke French like Peter the Wild Boy and English like the Deaf and Dumb School.”

S: Okay, that is a horrible thing to say. Also, who is Peter the wild boy?

E: So in the 18th century, a boy was found living in the forest. He behaved like an animal, walking on all fours and he could not speak. The Princess of Wales sort of adopted him and arranged for an education, but that failed.

S: So that’s a terrible insult. Cruel to everyone.

E: I think that was Dicken’s life motto.

S: But Dickens did so much to shed light on the plight of the poor, especially children.

E: I think that people are complicated- they aren’t good or bad. Even serial killers have wives and/or children.

S: Are you comparing dickens to a serial killer?

E: No! I think he had only one guy in mind to kill- Hans.

S: So how did Hans finally leave?

E: It’s unclear, I think he eventually began to pick up the fact that they wanted him out. After he left, Dickens wrote a bunch of people and basically celebrated.

S: Did Hans apologize or anything? I’m curious as to why you think he figured out they didn’t want him around.

E: He did cry when he left. And he also apologized in a letter.

“Kindly forget,” he pleaded, “the unfavorable aspect which our life together may have shown you of me.”

S: Our life together? That’s so dramatic.

E: That is Hans. He is super dramatic.

S: It seems like he knows he is odd.

E: I think so. However- I don’t know if I can explain this right. Hans knows that he is different than the world wants him to be, however, he thinks that the world doesn’t appreciate him.

S: So his weirdness is not a problem for him to work on? I’m not suggesting he change his personality, I’m suggesting he read a self help book that explains how to read body language.

E: I would agree with you but our friend is Hans is not that self aware. Mostly I think he thinks of himself as misunderstood genius. And this really comes out in the book the ugly duckling.

S: Love that one.

E: So about fifteen years prior to the Dickens incident, Anderson wrote the ugly duckling. And he said to several people that it was based on himself.

S: Awww that’s sad.

E: One critic asked if he would ever write an autobiography and Anderson said that it’s already been written- the ugly duckling.

S: Aw, I really do feel for the guy. Did he say what characteristics that didn’t fit in?

E: He mentions how he is similar to a woman. A later biographer just comes out and says, Anderson was a tall, ugly boy with a big nose and big feet. Later he had a beautiful singing voice that he was praised for and so he sort of transformed into a graceful swan. 

S: Oh interesting. I wonder if he, as an adult, saw himself as the swan or the ugly duckling.

E: Probably both. Anderson was obsessed with living a fairy tale. Whether he was imagining a new family or clinging to a make believe relationship, he had a hard time facing reality. When he died, he was found clutching a bunch of old letters that he had written to his childhood crush.

S: That’s sad.

E: I think he was again, imagining some relationship that just wasn’t there.

S: He certainly did that with Dickens.

E: And it will never not be funny to me.

S: Still, everything he did was relatively harmless, especially compared to Norman Mailer.

E: Oh my gosh, that awful man.

S: The fact that he stabbed his second wife and people think it’s charming, just goes to show you how much society values women.

E: Mailer was a prime example of that. Remember that awful biography he wrote about Marilyn Monroe? He started that rumor about her being murdered by the CIA for having an affair with JFK.

S: I think I had forgotten that.

E: I think that Arthur Miller said it best when he said Mailer through the book acted out his own fantasies of fame, sex and power.

S: Agreed. You’re really making Andersen look like a saint.

E: I just hate Norman Mailer. He once said that rape is good for a man’s soul.

S: Okay, I’m done. No more Mailer. Let’s go back to a sweet, embarrassing story about Anderson. I do feel bad a little for Hans Christian. He met his idol, wanted so badly to be best friends that he held on too tight and then of course screwed it all up.

E: Totally relate. Who among us has not acted a little too eager once? I remember being so excited to be friends with someone that I told her I wanted to put her in my pocket so we could hang out all day.

S: Awwww. How did she react?

E: Not well. She very graciously ignored that comment.

S: Ha!

S: Hm.                                               

S: Well, I found this interesting.

E: Right? Well that’s all I have on this subject. Unless you have questions/comments?

S: Answer

Erin: listeners! Tell us what you think! Tweet at us over at mythsinmovies or email as at mythsinmovies@gmail.com.