When I first came to Denmark, I was curious about an author Danes talked about ALL THE TIME – José Andersen, a distinctively foreign name in a sea of Jensen, Hansen and Larsen. Meet José.
What a fine looking man! If nothing about his looks imply few drops of blood from sunny places where boys are named José, it is because there isn’t. He is Hans Christian Andersen, the author of our childhood reading staples of Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling, Princess and the Pea etc. Danes call him by his initials ‘H.C’, which in Danish sounds like ‘Hoe. Zay Andersen.’
We went to Odense at the end of 2011 to visit our friends K & C , to bring in the new year with them. Situated in the island of Fyn, it is Denmark’s 3rd largest city. It looks like Copenhagen’s shorter, malnourished brother- which is a compliment. It comes from an excellent gene pool! It is a place where fairy tales and crime collide. It is (was) home to H.C Andersen and currently has the highest crime rate in Denmark. Must be the fairy tale karmic cycle of no-happily-ever-after-without-a-sad-before.
I have often read about how H.C Andersen lived in a poor quarter. Look! Poor quarter.
Isn’t it pretty? Old historians had no idea what they were talking about, or they didn’t imagine that what they call ‘poor quarters’ would one day be prime property. The city has of course changed, but this area where author’s old home stands, has been kept intact as a heritage site. So it still looks like what it looked like to H. C. Andersen.
His childhood home, now a museum. 
Not your wife till you put a ring on her, not your house unless you put your name on it.
One more picture H.C Andersen’s old neighbourhood. Wouldn’t it inspire you to write fairy tales as well?
And, by the way, Denmark wants me to remind you that H.C Andersen was Danish. If like me, you are a foreigner in Denmark, the Danes will not tire of reminding you. I am doing my duty as a resident.
PS- voting is still on. I don’t think I will win, but please vote and make me lose spectacularly!
