Improvisatoren (English: Improvisator)

A full-length novel by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, written in 1835. Antonio, born in Rome, loses his mother in the crowds at a festival and becomes an orphan. He wanders through his youth relying only on his natural talent for improvisational poetry, and experiences many ups and downs, including a duel with his best friend over the beautiful singer Annunciata. In the end, he wins the love of Maria, the innocent beauty and niece of the mayor of Venice, and begins a life of happiness. The story of poetry, love, and wanderings of a young man who grew up in adversity is filled with the author's entire experience, and the author has said, "There is nothing in this novel that I have not experienced." Mori Ogai's painstaking translation, which took nine years to complete, excited the youth of the Meiji and Taisho periods and stirred up the romantic spirit. Jiro Abe, Shinzo Koizumi, and Mokutaro Kinoshita even carried this book in their pockets when they traveled abroad and made pilgrimages to various parts of Italy.

[Yamamuro Shizuka]

"The Improvisator" translated by Mori Ogai (included in the Complete Works of Modern Japanese Literature 55, 1956, Chikuma Shobo)" ▽ "The Improvisator" translated by Ohata Sueyoshi (Iwanami Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

デンマークの作家、アンデルセンの長編小説。1835年作。ローマに生まれたアントニオが、祭りの雑踏のなかで母を失って孤児となり、持って生まれた即興詩の才を唯一の頼りに青春の彷徨(ほうこう)を重ね、美しき歌姫アヌンチャタをめぐって親友と決闘するなどの波瀾(はらん)を重ねながら、最後はベネチア市長の姪(めい)の清純な美女マリアの愛を得て幸福の生涯に入るまでを描く。逆境に生い立った青年の詩と愛とさすらいの物語には作者の全体験が投げ込まれており、「この小説のなかには私の体験したもの以外は何一つない」と作者はいっている。9年間にわたる森鴎外(おうがい)の苦心の訳は、明治・大正期の青年を熱狂させ、浪漫(ろうまん)精神を沸き立たせた。阿部次郎、小泉信三、木下杢太郎(もくたろう)らは外遊に際してはこの本をポケットに忍ばせてイタリア各地を巡礼したほどだった。

［山室　静］

『森鴎外訳『即興詩人』（『現代日本文学全集55』所収・1956・筑摩書房）』▽『大畑末吉訳『即興詩人』（岩波文庫）』

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