Lucky Peter

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Glücks-Peter (Danish Lykke-Peer ) is the fifth and last novel by the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen . It was published in 1870.

content

On the same day and in the same house, two boys are born - one in the first floor as the son of a rich merchant, the other in the attic as the son of a poor maid. While happiness falls into the lap of the rich child Felix without any income of his own, poor Peter is blessed by his talents. But even before he can prove his merits, happiness falls to him by itself. At first he was given the opportunity to gain theater experience as a ballet dancer, and later he received vocal training. When Peter breaks his voice, a patron who has recognized his talent sends him to a private school in the province for two years so that he can get an education there. Here, too, it works well. Through his first longing love he falls into a psychologically conditioned feverish crisis. After his voice has returned, his patron takes him to the opera in the capital, where Peter celebrates great success and is accepted into good company. But here he woke up to write an opera himself, as his first attempts at composing were very promising. He writes the opera Aladdin , which is actually performed. Not only did the music and the libretto come from him, he also sings the leading role himself. The premiere was a triumphant success. At the moment of his greatest happiness, during the storms of applause from the audience after the performance, Peter dies on stage.

About the book

The story of Glücks-Peter, which bears autobiographical traits of the author, was originally conceived as a fairy tale , as can be seen from a diary entry from April 29, 1870. The short novel, sometimes referred to as a narrative , has many idyllic and fairytale features. The rise of the poor boy Peter is portrayed in a transfiguring manner, without breaks or crises, straightforward and fateful. Only a few satirical infiltration of the motifs and the linguistic mastery prevent a slide into the overly sweetish sentimental. Looking back on his life, Andersen found that everything had worked out artistically for him. Like himself, Peter is only denied happiness in human love.

reception

While the novel was still being written, Andersen read the passages just written to a select group of listeners and heard their first reactions. This first audience praised the work. Johanne Luise Heiberg was happy about the return of the fairy tale tone at Andersen, Henrik Ibsen found the poetry poetic and Henrik Nielsen said that with the lucky Peter Andersen had created a new synthesis of fairy tales and novels. The description of the protagonist's effortless artistic career and his sudden death met with criticism after the book was published. Frederik Winkel-Horn said in his review that Peter's death was an unpleasant surprise and prevented him from fully exploiting his talent. Carl Rosenberg wrote that he missed the soul struggles, in the course of which the character first developed, and in the end asks himself what this story actually has to do with us.

expenditure

  • Hans Christian Andersen: Lykke-Peer . Copenhagen 1870
  • Hans Christian Andersen: Romaner og rejseskildringer. 7 volumes . Copenhagen 1943-44

Translations

  • The lucky Peter. A story ; in: Collected Works Volume 49. Johann Friedrich Hartknoch, Leipzig 1871
  • Lucky peter . With pictures by Paula Max. Phoebus-Verlag, Munich 1920
  • Lucky peter . With paper cuttings by Alfred Thon . Axel Juncker Verlag, Berlin 1920 (new edition Insel-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1982)
  • The lucky Peter. Narration . Acc .: Marie Fiesel. Hendel, Halle around 1920
  • Lucky peter . Acc .: Marie von Borch. Reclam, Leipzig 1945

literature

  • Knut Brynhildsvoll: Lykke-Peer ; in: Kindler's new literary lexicon. Volume 1 . Kindler Verlag, Munich 1988