The Galoshes of Fortune facts for kids
Quick facts for kids "The Galoshes of Fortune" |
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1889 illustration by Helen Stratton
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| Author | Hans Christian Andersen (2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) |
| Original title | "Lykkens Kalosker" |
| Country | Denmark |
| Language | Danish |
| Genre(s) | Literary fairy tale |
| Published in | Three Poetical Works. (Tre Digtninger.) |
| Publication type | Anthology |
| Publisher | C. A. Reitzel |
| Media type | |
| Publication date | 19 May 1838 |
| Followed by | "The True Soldier" |
The Galoshes of Fortune (which means Lykkens Kalosker in Danish) is a fun fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. It's all about a special pair of boots that can make you travel through time and space! These magical boots are thought to be inspired by old stories about "seven-league boots," which could help people travel very far, very fast.
This story was first printed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 19, 1838. It appeared in a book called Three Poetical Works. This book also included a play and a poem by Andersen.
Contents
About the Story
Hans Christian Andersen was a famous Danish writer. He wrote many beloved fairy tales. In "The Galoshes of Fortune," Andersen used a friendly, everyday style of writing. He even read the story aloud to people in the late 1830s.
The Magical Plot
The story takes place in Copenhagen. A big party is happening, and the guests are having a good time.
The Magical Galoshes Arrive
During the party, a man named Councilor Knap talks about how he thinks the Middle Ages were better than his own time. Suddenly, two fairies appear! One is old and named Dame Care. The other is a helper of Dame Fortune.
Dame Fortune's helper has brought a special pair of galoshes. These boots are truly magical! Anyone who wears them can instantly go to any time, place, or situation they wish for. But Dame Care warns that the boots will still make the person unhappy. She believes they will always wish to be back in their own time.
Councilor Knap's Time Travel Adventure
After the party, Councilor Knap decides to go home. He finds the galoshes and puts them on. Instantly, he is sent back in time to the days of King Hans.
Knap doesn't realize what has happened right away. He notices the streets are dirty and muddy. He sees a parade for a bishop and thinks it's the bishop from his own time. When he tries to cross a bridge, it's gone! He asks two men in a boat for directions, but they don't understand him. He thinks they have a strange accent.
Knap gets frustrated. There are no lights or cabs. He tries to walk back to a familiar street, but it's now a meadow. He thinks he must be sick. He goes into a tavern and asks for his newspaper, but they don't have it. He sees an old picture and wonders where they found it. He even talks in Latin with a man who studied theology. Knap keeps mixing up medieval events with things from his own life. For example, he confuses the Black Death with a cholera sickness from his time.
As the evening goes on, people drink a lot. Knap is disgusted by their rude behavior. He tries to sneak away, but others pull him back. As they pull, his feet slip out of the galoshes. The magic spell is broken! Knap wakes up back in his own time. He thinks it was all a dream. Now, he believes his own time is the best!
The Watchman's Moon Trip
Next, a watchman finds the galoshes. He wishes he could be a lieutenant, thinking that life would be much better. The galoshes work their magic! Suddenly, the watchman is the lieutenant, sitting at a desk. He reads a poem the lieutenant wrote about being lonely and wishing for more money. The watchman realizes he'd rather be himself. He has a wife and children who share his joys and sadness.
The galoshes change him back. The watchman, still not knowing about the magic, sees a falling star. He wishes he could travel to the Moon. Instantly, the galoshes send him there at the speed of light! On the Moon, he meets Moon people. They wonder if Earth has anyone living on it and decide it's impossible.
Back on Earth, the watchman's body is found. He is taken to a hospital. When his shoes are taken off, the spell breaks again. He wakes up and says it was the worst night ever!
The Intern's Strange Wishes
The galoshes stay at the hospital. A young night intern tries them on. He is supposed to guard the hospital fence. He wishes he could get out for a bit, wondering if he could "get his head through the fence." As soon as he thinks this, his head gets stuck! He struggles until he wishes he was free again. The galoshes grant his wish.
The next day, the intern goes to a play. In the play, there are special glasses that let you see the future in people's faces. The intern wishes he had such glasses. Soon, he does! He looks into the hearts of the people in the front row and sees many strange things. He thinks he has too much blood in his head. He wishes he could take a Russian steam bath.
Suddenly, he is in a steam bath, fully clothed! He scares everyone. He quickly pretends it's part of a bet. He then returns home. The next day, he has a blistered back from the steam bath.
The Clerk's Bird Life
The watchman picks up the galoshes from the hospital. He turns them in at the police station. By accident, they are given to a clerk whose own galoshes were lost.
During a walk, the clerk meets a friend who is a poet. The clerk wishes he could live the poet's life, which seems more fun. At first, the clerk enjoys being a poet, full of ideas. Then, he wishes he was a lark (a type of bird). But a little boy catches him! He is sold to a family and put in a cage. He talks with a canary and a parrot. Both birds miss being free.
The cage door is open, and the clerk tries to fly away. But a cat attacks him! He manages to fly back to his own home. The spell is broken again.
The Student's Journey and Return
Finally, the clerk's neighbor, a student of theology, asks for the galoshes. The clerk gives them to him. As the student walks away, he wishes he could travel to Switzerland and Italy. Instantly, he is on top of Mont Blanc, a very cold mountain! He wishes he was on the other side of the Alps. He ends up in Italy, near Lake Thrasymene.
He enjoys the beautiful views. But he also sees how hungry and poor the local people are. He thinks it would be better if his body could rest while his spirit flew on without it. The galoshes grant his wish, and he seems to be peacefully still.
Andersen ends the story with a quote from Solon: "Call no man happy until he rests in his grave." Dame Care tells the other fairy that her warnings came true. But she does a favor for the student. She takes off his galoshes, which brings him back to life. She takes the magical boots with her.
