David Binzer

Hans Christian Andersen: Fairy Tales, Technology, and the Natural Sciences

Arts EN ↓ 3 episodes

Welcome to "Hans Christian Andersen: Fairy Tales, Technology and the Natural Sciences"—a three-episode podcast exploring the intersections between one of the world’s most beloved storytellers and the scientific and technological revolutions of the 19th century. Hosted by Mads Sohl Jessen, a literary scholar at the Hans Christian Andersen Centre (University of Southern Denmark), this series explores three of Andersen’s lesser-known stories—works inspired by his friendships with scientists, his fascination with cutting-edge inventions, and his engagement with the natural sciences. While Andersen...

Author

David Binzer

Episodes

Andersen’s Cosmic Tale – "The Comet" and the Wonder of the Universe 02.10.2025 40:44

In this episode, Mads Sohl Jessen and Holger Berg explore Andersen’s 1869 story "The Comet"—a poetic meditation on time, science, and human wonder. From the story’s publication in an American journal to its portrayal of a boy who as an old man witnesses the same comet decades apart, they discuss how Andersen fuses astronomy, superstition, and faith. Discover how this tale reflects Andersen’s lifel...

Andersen’s "The Great Sea Serpent" – A Modern Fairy Tale of the Deep 02.10.2025 52:00

In this episode, Mads Sohl Jessen and Ane Grum-Schwensen discuss Andersen’s 1871 tale "The Great Sea Serpent—a modern fairy tale" that explores the ecological and technological upheaval caused by the transatlantic telegraph cable. From Andersen’s vivid descriptions of marine life disrupted by human invention to his use of scientific literature, they discuss how Andersen blends myth, science, and e...

Andersen’s Vision of the Future – "Thousands of Years from Now" 02.10.2025 33:46

In this episode, Mads Sohl Jessen and Torsten Bøgh Thomsen talk about Andersen’s 1852 tale "Thousands of Years from Now"—a strikingly modern vision of mass tourism, technological progress, and cultural decline. Andersen imagines a future where Americans traverse the Atlantic by airship, visiting the ruins of Europe’s once-great cities. From the decay of Rome to the Channel Tunnel between England a...