The Danish writer’s behaviour on an extended visit killed the authors’ friendship, letters show
It was not, to say the least, a successful visit. The burgeoning friendship between a pair of literary stars, Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen, had looked set to last. But it could not survive an overlong stay by the Danish author at the British novelist’s family home in Kent. Just how bad things became, on one side at least, has been revealed by a surprisingly frank letter sold at auction on Saturday.
In March 1857, Andersen had announced he was coming over for a short summer stay of a fortnight at the most. Andersen wrote: “[M]y visit is intended for you alone,” and added, “Above all, always leave me a small corner in your heart.”
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