Publisher's Synopsis
The Improvisatore is a novel written by the renowned Danish author Hans Christian Andersen and was first published in 1869. The story follows the life of a young Italian boy named Antonio, who grows up in poverty and is forced to make a living as an improvisatore, or a traveling storyteller. As Antonio travels across Italy, he encounters a variety of characters and experiences, including love, loss, and betrayal. He falls in love with a beautiful young woman named Mariuccia, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that she is already engaged to another man. Throughout the novel, Antonio struggles to find his place in the world and to come to terms with his own identity. He is torn between his desire to be a successful improvisatore and his longing for a stable and secure life. The Improvisatore is a rich and complex novel that explores themes of love, identity, and the power of storytelling. It is widely regarded as one of Andersen's most significant works and is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of European literature.
 
 
Houghton Mifflin; Undated, c. 1900. Author's Edition translated from the Danish by Mary Howitt. Book measures approx 20 cm x 13 cm.  Blue boards with gilt detailing and lettering to front and lettering to spine. Spine a little dulled. Corners rubbed. Minor marks to boards. Previous owners name to FFEP. The top page edges are sprayed with gilt.  341 pp. Advertisement to front stating ' this is the first of a series of Hans Christian Andersen's complete Works, published. This is an autobiographical novel based on Andersen's travels in Italy in 1833. Preowned. No ISBN.