# Clara Andersen

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For the Danish swimmer, see [Clara Rybak-Andersen](/source/Clara_Rybak-Andersen).

**Clara Elisabeth Andersen** (13 May 1826 – 28 August 1895) was a Danish dramatist and novelist. Thanks to the many plays she wrote, she became the most successful female Danish playwright of the 19th century. Her *Rosa og Rosita* (1862) was performed more than a hundred times at the [Royal Danish Theatre](/source/Royal_Danish_Theatre). She remained unknown to the general public during her lifetime as her plays were written anonymously and her novels and short stories were published under the pen-name **Paul Winther**.[1][2]

## Biography

Born in [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen) on 13 May 1826, Clara Elisabeth Andersen was the daughter of the musician Casper Heinrich Bernhard Andersen, who played the French horn at the [Royal Theatre](/source/Royal_Danish_Theatre), and the actress [Birgitte Andersen](/source/Birgitte_Andersen), who performed there.[1]

Andersen began writing plays while still young. In 1848, she sent *En Evadatter* to the poet [Henrik Hertz](/source/Henrik_Hertz) who encouraged her to continue. She became acquainted with the dramatist [Frederik Høedt](/source/Frederik_H%C3%B8edt) who had the play performed at the [Royal Court Theatre](/source/Hoftheatret) in 1855. It became one of the most popular plays written by a woman. Based on how a performance of *[Hamlet](/source/Hamlet)* was perceived by London aristocrats, it was well received by the critics. Her most successful play, *Rosa og Rosita*, was staged at the Royal Theatre in 1862 but was also performed in [Vienna](/source/Vienna), [Berlin](/source/Berlin), [Breslau](/source/Breslau) and [Kristiania](/source/Kristiania).[1] Most of her theatrical works were staged at the Royal Theatre where they were well received.[3]

Adopting the pen-name Paul Winther, she published a collection of short stories titled *Noveller* in 1855 as well as the novel *Kastaniebaandet* (English: *The Chestnut Band*) in 1861.[3]

In later years, she lived alone in a Viennese boarding house but continued to take an interest in the theatre. She died in Copenhagen on 28 August 1895, still unknown as a playwright. She left a considerable sum to charity.[1]

## Works

- *En Evadatter* (1855)
- *Noveller* (1855)
- *En Velgørers Testamente* (1858)
- *Kastaniebaandet* (1861)
- *Rosa og Rosita* (1862)
- *En Teaterhistorie under Ludvig den XIV* (1862)
- *En nyttig Onkel* (1870)
- *Grøns Fødselsdag* (1870)
- *De lykkeligste Børn* (1871)
- *Sandt og usandt* (1873)[3]

## References

1. Busk-Jensen. ["Clara Andersen"](http://www.kvinfo.dk/side/597/bio/335/origin/170/) (in Danish). *lex.dk*. Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon. Retrieved 4 October 2017.

1. Dyrbye. ["Clara Andersen"](http://denstoredanske.dk/Gyldendals_Teaterleksikon/Dansk_1840-1950/Clara_Andersen) (in Danish). *lex.dk*. Gyldendals Teaterleksikon. Retrieved 4 October 2017.

1. Andersen, Anton (1896). ["Frøken Clara Andersen"](https://runeberg.org/danforf/andercla.html). *Danske Forfatterinder i det nittende Hundredaar* (in Danish). Copenhagen: Em. Laghoffs Forlag. Retrieved 6 October 2017. – via [Project Runeberg](/source/Project_Runeberg)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Clara Andersen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Andersen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Andersen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.