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Petr HansenDanish-Russian literary figure, translator.
Date of Birth: 24.10.1846
Country:  Denmark |
Content:
- Amalie Wilhelmine Vasil'eva-Hansen
- Literary Pursuits
- Collaboration with Amalie
- Original Works and Social Advocacy
- Return to Denmark and Later Years
- Legacy and Impact
Amalie Wilhelmine Vasil'eva-Hansen
Early Life and CareerAmalie Wilhelmine Vasil'eva-Hansen (née Hansen) was born in Denmark in 1869. She traveled to Russia with her husband, Frederik Gotlieb Vaupell Hansen, in 1871. Frederik worked for the Northern Telegraph Agency in Siberia for approximately a decade.
Literary Pursuits
During their stay in Siberia, Frederik immersed himself in Russian language and literature. He became a gifted translator, rendering Russian works into Danish and vice versa. In 1877, he published a Danish translation of Ivan Goncharov's "An Ordinary History," which initiated a cordial correspondence between Hansen and Goncharov.
In 1881, the Hansens relocated to Saint Petersburg. Frederik's translations of Leo Tolstoy's works, beginning with "The Kreutzer Sonata" in 1885, brought him into personal contact with Tolstoy.
Collaboration with Amalie
Amalie, having studied Danish, became her husband's indispensable assistant. Together, they translated Scandinavian literature into Russian, including works by Hans Christian Andersen, Henrik Ibsen, Knut Hamsun, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Søren Kierkegaard, August Strindberg, and Karin Michaëlis.
Original Works and Social Advocacy
Beyond translation, Frederik Hansen penned publicistic and critical articles, focusing on Danish politics and Norwegian literature. He also authored original works on social welfare in Scandinavia, such as "Social Self-Help in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden" (1898) and "Labor Assistance in the Scandinavian States" (1900).
Return to Denmark and Later Years
In 1917, the Hansens returned to Denmark. Frederik continued to follow the development of Soviet literature, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his career in 1928. Amalie remained in Petrograd and actively engaged in literary and social work until her death during the siege of Leningrad.
Legacy and Impact
In 1930, the Leningrad branch of the All-Russian Union of Writers commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Hansens' collaborative literary pursuits. Their translations played a significant role in introducing Scandinavian literature to Russian readers and fostering cultural exchange between the two countries.
