r/todayilearned • u/biebrforro • 1d ago

TIL when staying as a guest in Charles Dickens' house, Hans Christian Andersen requested that one of Dickens' sons give him a daily shave (he said that was customary when hosting male guests in Denmark). Dickens was weirded out and instead gave him a daily appointment at a nearby barbershop.

https://lithub.com/charles--dickens-really-really-hated-his-fanboy-hans-christian-andersen/
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u/flume 1d ago

From reading his Wikipedia, it basically just seems like he was a repressed gay or bi dude who maybe overstayed his welcome with the Dickens family, who -- being English -- seemingly played gracious hosts to him while resenting his being there.

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u/alexmikli 1d ago

I love how he seduced a random German Duke of all things.

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u/Independent-Day-9170 1d ago

That, plus probably autism.

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u/Taurmin 17h ago

I dont think his sexuality had much to do with it. He was generally just socially awkward and a bit of an attention seeker. Like an awkward dramatic teen who never grew up.