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Die beiden Baroninnen
Roman in drei Teilen.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1848
About the author
Hans Christian Andersen
7,621 books3,580 followersHans Christian Andersen (often referred to in Scandinavia as H.C. Andersen) was a Danish author and poet. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. Andersen's popularity is not limited to children; his stories — called eventyr, or "fairy-tales" — express themes that transcend age and nationality.
Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films.
Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 3, 2015
In the Two Baronesses, Hans Christian Andersen, offers a new version of Sir Walter Scott's Heart of the Midlothian situated in nineteenth century Denmark. It is a technique that often works. Many people believe that James Joyce created a masterpiece by recasting Homer's Odyssey in early twentieth century Dublin. Similarly Jean Anouilh's decision to take Sophocles Antigone put her into France under the German occupation of WWII has met with broad praise. Andersen's worthy effort has simply failed to praise the reading public as have works by Joyce and Anouilh. A major part of the problem is that the Heart of Midlothian is no longer widely read whereas Homer's Odyssey and Sophocles' Antigone continue to hold a large audience.
I am sympathetic to Andersen for his noble attempt which simply does work with a reader of the twenty-first century. It may once have worked as Sir Walter Scott was the only British author widely read outside of the English-speaking world for most of the nineteenth century. Sir Walter Scott's novels had a huge impact on poetry, novels, painting and above-all opera for almost a century. German Romanticism had relatively little influence outside of Germany but Scott's Romanticism absolutely dominated England, France and Italy in its day.
Andersen's idea then to use Scott's Heart of the Midlothian to examine the Danish society of his day was possibly not bad. However, gathering from the reviews that I have read on Goodreads and elsewhere no one seems to have appreciated it. Despite the fact that Andersen repeatedly states in the novel that he is using the Heart of the Midlothian as his template, the other reviewers have suggested that he has simply inserted fairy-tale elements into the Two Baronesses. I think rather that the novel simply contains the type of improbable events and weird characters such as can be found in novels by Walter Scott or Victor Hugo. I may be wrong. Most of the other reviewers feel that the author of the Ugly Duckling does nothing more than show how much out of his depth he is with adult fiction. Without actually recommending this failed novel, I do not think that it missed by much in what it was trying to do.
I am sympathetic to Andersen for his noble attempt which simply does work with a reader of the twenty-first century. It may once have worked as Sir Walter Scott was the only British author widely read outside of the English-speaking world for most of the nineteenth century. Sir Walter Scott's novels had a huge impact on poetry, novels, painting and above-all opera for almost a century. German Romanticism had relatively little influence outside of Germany but Scott's Romanticism absolutely dominated England, France and Italy in its day.
Andersen's idea then to use Scott's Heart of the Midlothian to examine the Danish society of his day was possibly not bad. However, gathering from the reviews that I have read on Goodreads and elsewhere no one seems to have appreciated it. Despite the fact that Andersen repeatedly states in the novel that he is using the Heart of the Midlothian as his template, the other reviewers have suggested that he has simply inserted fairy-tale elements into the Two Baronesses. I think rather that the novel simply contains the type of improbable events and weird characters such as can be found in novels by Walter Scott or Victor Hugo. I may be wrong. Most of the other reviewers feel that the author of the Ugly Duckling does nothing more than show how much out of his depth he is with adult fiction. Without actually recommending this failed novel, I do not think that it missed by much in what it was trying to do.
October 28, 2022
After visiting Kopenhagen this year, I just could not help but buy this book when I saw it in a second hand book store in my home town. I have never heard anyone talk about this book, and tbh I didn't even know that Hans Christian Andersen wrote novels besides his fairytales.
And I’m glad that I bought this. It was a lovely, light read which would have been even more enjoyable if I had read it in spring because it’s definitely a spring book.
But anyways, let's talk about it. To be fully honest, I didn't love it in the beginning because it was kiiind of boring, but I quickly got to know the characters better and then, I finished the book in one sitting.
There were three things I absolutely adored:
Firstly, the characters! They were so well-created, and interesting, and despite of some weaknesses, they were very loveable. Especially our protagonist, Elisabeth, is such a cute and shy girl – but not in an annoying and degrading way but rather in a innocent, god-fearing way. And whilst authors often make this shyness and clumsiness their whole personality, Andersen gave Elisabeth many more character traits. She's curious and loves music and words and has a vivid imagination.
Another thing I loved about this book are the topics that were talked about. The beauty of writing and philosophical conversations about what makes art and a good and deep book. And how one single moment or mistake can define and completely change the course of life.
Lastly, Andersen's writing style is amazing. I never knew he's such a talented writer of novels. There were beautiful and unique descriptions, but not too many. The conversations were amusing at times and very realistic and I don't know why but I loved the narrator’s voice and how he glimpsed through the story sometimes or even made jokes about the characters.
In conclusion, a surprising 4 star book which would've been a 5 star if the beginning and the ending had been a liiitle more exciting.
And I’m glad that I bought this. It was a lovely, light read which would have been even more enjoyable if I had read it in spring because it’s definitely a spring book.
But anyways, let's talk about it. To be fully honest, I didn't love it in the beginning because it was kiiind of boring, but I quickly got to know the characters better and then, I finished the book in one sitting.
There were three things I absolutely adored:
Firstly, the characters! They were so well-created, and interesting, and despite of some weaknesses, they were very loveable. Especially our protagonist, Elisabeth, is such a cute and shy girl – but not in an annoying and degrading way but rather in a innocent, god-fearing way. And whilst authors often make this shyness and clumsiness their whole personality, Andersen gave Elisabeth many more character traits. She's curious and loves music and words and has a vivid imagination.
Another thing I loved about this book are the topics that were talked about. The beauty of writing and philosophical conversations about what makes art and a good and deep book. And how one single moment or mistake can define and completely change the course of life.
Lastly, Andersen's writing style is amazing. I never knew he's such a talented writer of novels. There were beautiful and unique descriptions, but not too many. The conversations were amusing at times and very realistic and I don't know why but I loved the narrator’s voice and how he glimpsed through the story sometimes or even made jokes about the characters.
In conclusion, a surprising 4 star book which would've been a 5 star if the beginning and the ending had been a liiitle more exciting.
April 1, 2020
Very entertaining as always when it is Andersen.
October 12, 2013
С любопитство започнах тази книга. Исках да открия някоя друга, непозната страна на Андерсен може би. Много исках да ми хареса... Насилвах се да ми хареса... от първата до последната страница, но това просто не се случи. :( Езикът на любимия детски автор е безспорно красив, хуморът - тънък, остроумието - на ниво, но захаросаният наивитет развали всичко в иначе интересния сюжет на "Двете баронеси". :'(
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews