An exhibition in the Regional Library recalls the Danish writer’s travels through Spain
In the lobby of the Regional Library is the exhibition ‘Andersen: A journey through Spain’, part of the events of the Murcia Book Fair that has just ended. The exhibition can be visited throughout October and is organized by the Spanish Association of Friends of Children’s and Youth Books, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, the Danish Embassy and the Queen Elizabeth Foundation of Denmark, in commemoration of the second centenary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen.
The exhibition recalls the famous Danish writer’s two trips to Spain. The first of them in 1862. He told about his experience in the book ‘Viaje a España’, which helped to popularize our country, which was still very unknown to most Europeans. Andersen was no stranger to the romantic movement that attracted many tourists since the early 19th century, seduced by the topics of the Spanish character and imbued with the romantic ideals that linked our country to the Arab legends, the romances of the Cid and the knightly spirit of Cervantes. The children’s story writer also had a personal reason: the unforgettable memory of his encounter with a Spanish soldier when he was three years old. Andersen would return four years later, crossing the peninsula on his way to Portugal.
In the various panels news from the press from that time can be found about events that the author experienced on his journey. The descriptions, thoughts and anecdotes told by Andersen himself, witnessing some of the scenes in the photos shown, are incorporated into the exhibition. Likewise, reproductions of scenes from his stories created by Spanish artists are included.
In his ‘Journey to Spain’ Andersen devotes the sixth chapter to recounting his time in the city of Murcia and the seventh to describing his impressions of Cartagena, “the city of Asdrúbal”. He stayed in Murcia for four days, staying in an inn next to the cathedral. The Nordic writer tells about his visit to the gypsy neighborhood and the Casino. The journey from Murcia to Cartagena then took six hours by stagecoach. At a stop on the route, he tried a traditional drink of the time: warm water mixed with anise, drink in a pitcher.
In Cartagena, where he spent three days, he met the Danish consul and the Russian consul, who acted as his guide. He visited the harbour, the arsenal, the shipyards and the Casino. He could also see the Fortress of Christmas and the Castle of Santa Bárbara. The strong winds “which they call mistral here” and “its barren mountains like craters” caught his attention. In the port of Cartagena, “which is very wide and has an amazing depth”, he took the steamer to Malaga.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
