Danish literature
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Culture of Denmark |
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Danish literature (
During Denmark's
Important post-WW II authors include Tove Ditlevsen (1917–1976), Klaus Rifbjerg (1931–2015), Dan Turèll (1946–1993), Leif Davidsen (born 1950), Bjarne Reuter (born 1950), Peter Høeg (born 1957), Jens Christian Grøndahl (born 1959), Benny Andersen (1929–2018), Anders Bodelsen (1937–2021), Elsebeth Egholm (born 1960), Christian Kampmann (1939–1988), Dea Trier Mørch (1941–2001), Jakob Ejersbo (1968–2008), Jussi Adler-Olsen (born 1950), and Birgithe Kosovic (born 1972). Among today's most successful authors are Leif Davidsen who writes gripping spy stories with a political extension, Bjarne Reuter with his intriguing novels for younger readers and Jens Christian Grøndahl whose love stories with a psychological twist include "Silence in October" and "An Altered Light".
Middle Ages
The earliest preserved texts from Denmark are runic inscriptions on memorial stones and other objects. Some of them contain short poems in alliterative verse.
The advent of Christianity in the 10th century brought Denmark into contact with European learning, including the Latin language and alphabet, but it was not until the late 12th century that this was to bear significant literary fruit in Gesta Danorum, an ambitious historical work by Saxo Grammaticus. Saxo's work is an important primary source for the study of Scandinavian myths and legends as well as a lively account of Danish history up to the author's own time. Other medieval literary works include the Danish ballads, recorded since the 16th century by aristocratic ladies in their manuscript albums. These led to the "Book of a Hundred Ballads (1591) published by Anders Sørensen Vedel, "Collection Tragica" (1695) by Metter Gøya and the "Book of a Hundred Ballads" by Peter Syv in 1695.[1]
16th and 17th centuries
Reformation-era literature |
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The 16th century brought the
Fine poetry was created in the early 17th century by Anders Arrebo (1587–1637).[2] He is remembered in particular for Hexaemeron, a poem describing the six days of the Creation (c. 1622), published posthumously[3]
External struggles with Sweden and internal rivalries among the nobility leading to Denmark's absolute monarchy in 1660 are chronicled from a royal prisoner's redemptive perspective in Jammersminde (Remembered Woes), in the heartfelt prose of Leonora Christina of the Blue Tower, written 1673–1698, but first published in 1869.
18th century
Ludvig Holberg (1684–1754), influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment and Humanism, is considered the founder of modern Danish and Norwegian literature.[4][5] He is best known for the comedies he wrote in 1722–1728. Among the most popular are Jean de France and Erasmus Montanus, both in the satirical style of Molière with pretentious, stereotyped characters. The first is about a Dane who, after picking up notions of the French language and lifestyle while in Paris, tries to impress his countrymen on his return to Denmark. The second presents Rasmus Berg, the son of a farmer. On completing his college education, he Latinized his name to Montanus and became a menace to his family and neighbours with all he has learned.[6]
Neoclassical poetry, drama, and the essay flourished during the 18th century influenced by French and English trends. German influence is seen in the verse of the leading poets of the late 18th century such as Johannes Ewald and Jens Baggesen.[7][8]
Other 18th century writers include the
19th century
The Golden Age
During
One of the most important figures in Danish literary culture was
Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875) is remembered first and foremost for his fairy tales, written between 1835 and 1872 not only for children but for adults too. Among the most popular are "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Snow Queen", "The Little Mermaid", "Thumbelina", "The Little Match Girl", and "The Ugly Duckling". Considered to be the father of the modern fairytale, Andersen wrote a total of 156 fairy stories, only 12 of which drew on folk tales. But Andersen also wrote a number of travel sketches, several novels including the well-received: "The Improvisatore" (1835), a series of poems, and his autobiography "The Fairy Tale of My Life" (1855).[15]
Modern Breakthrough
Jens Peter Jacobsen (1847–1885) began the naturalist movement in Denmark with his romantic, melancholic poems. He is remembered principally for his two novels: Fru Marie Grubbe (1876) and Niels Lyhne (1880).[21]
Other authors associated with the Modern Breakthrough movement include Holger Drachmann (1846–1908), a popular poet in his day, Herman Bang (1857–1912), a successful novelist, and Sophus Schandorph who gained fame with his Fra Provinsen (1876), a set of rustic tales.
20th century
Pre-war trends
The 20th century began with reactions against the naturalist movement, moving instead towards nationalism. A
A more influential trajectory took its cue from the modern realism of
The period also saw the introduction of a regional approach to literature by writers such as Jeppe Aakjær (1866–1930) from Jutland and his wife Marie Bregendahl. Focusing more on personal concerns, Johannes Jørgensen (1866–1956) and Nobel prize-winner Johannes V. Jensen (1873–1950) brought a new dimension to their poetry, moving from lyricism to the meaning of existence.[22]
Karen Blixen (1885–1962), who also used the pen name "Isak Dinesen", was an unusually sensitive author, writing in both English and Danish and often adopting a fairy-tale style. Her first successful work, the enigmatic "Seven Gothic Tales", was published in the United States in 1934. Other important works include her memoir Out of Africa (1937), recording her experiences in Kenya, and two more collections of finely crafted short stories, "Winter's Tales" (1942) and "Last Tales" (1957).[22]
Post-war period
Tove Ditlevsen (1917–1976) was an important poet, as well as a novelist, essayist and short-story writer. She became one of the most widely read women writers in Denmark. Known for her direct style and honest accounts of her private life in the poorer quarters of Copenhagen, Ditlevsen enjoyed popularity from the 1940s until her tragic suicide in 1976. Among her most popular works are her autobiographical novel Barndommens Gade translated as "Childhood's Street" (1943) and her harshly honest memoirs Det tidlige forår translated as "Early Spring" (1976).[23]
Klaus Rifbjerg (1931–2015) has published over 100 novels as well as poetry, short stories and TV plays. Among his works which have been translated into English are Witness to the Future and War. In his novel "Den kroniske uskyld" (Chronic Innocence) (1958) about a generation which experienced problems with its personal development and its sexuality, Rifbjerg created an image of himself as a provocative and scandalous author. The novel, now a classic, is the first clear sign in Rifbjerg's work of the theme of puberty which has reappeared in much of his later fiction.[24]
Dan Turèll (1946–1993) was an extremely prolific writer who is perhaps remembered above all for his 12 detective stories, the first of which Mord i mørket (Murder in the Dark) was published in 1981, the last Mord i San Francisco (Murder in San Francisco) in 1990. But he also wrote a passionate autobiographical novel, Vangede billeder (Images of Vangede) (1975), as well as many collections of modern poetry.[25]
Bjarne Reuter (born 1950) is an extremely productive and popular writer, especially in regard to children's literature. Many of his stories have appeared as films, including "Zappa" (1977) and "Busters Verden" (Buster's World) (1979).[29] Most of his books are set in the 1950s and 1960s in Copenhagen. English translations include "The Boys from St. Petri" (Drengene fra Sankt Petri) (1991) and "The Ring of the Slave Prince" (Prins Faisals ring) (2000).[30]
Jens Christian Grøndahl (born 1959) began his literary career in 1985 with novels in the rather complex French nouveau roman style. His breakthrough came in 1998 with his more traditionally structured Lucca which had far more general appeal. Grøndahl's psychological insight into amorous relationships between individuals of different ages has made him one of Denmark's most appreciated modern novelists.[33] Several of his books have been translated into English including Tavshed i oktober (Silence in October) (1996), Virginia (2000) and Et andet lys (An Altered Light) (2002).[34]
Among other popular contemporary authors are:
- Benny Andersen (1929–2018), Denmark's favourite lyricist, whose collected poems (Samlede digte) (1998) have sold over 100,000 copies.[35]
- Jane Aamund (1936–2019) whose popularity stems above all from her erotically presented autobiographical works which became best sellers in the 1990s.[36]
- Anders Bodelsen (1937–2021) whose works include thrillers about middle-class people faced with materialistic trends.[37]
- Elsebeth Egholm (born 1960), a best-selling author of crime fiction in the new millennium with two television series based on her novels, gaining international success with Those Who Kill.[38]
- Christian Kampmann (1939–1988) whose novels depict the upper middle classes in post-war Denmark.[39]
- Svend Aage Madsen (born 1939) whose novels combining realism with fantasy include Vice and Virtue in Middle Time (Tugt og utugt i mellemtiden, 1976).[40]
- Dea Trier Mørch (1941–2001) who gained international fame in 1976 with her novel "Vinterbørn" (Winter's Child) about the worries and difficulties women face in connection with childbirth.[41]
- Jakob Ejersbo (1968–2008) whose bestselling Tanzania-based trilogy consisting of two novels, "Eksil" (Exile) and "Liberty", and a set of short stories, "Revolution", emphasizes the basic conditions and longings of human existence.[42]
- Jussi Adler-Olsen (born 1950) became a bestselling author in 1997 with his first novel Alfabethuset, followed by several more equally successful thrillers including Flaskepost fra P (Message in a Bottle) in 2009.[43]
- Birgithe Kosovic (born 1972) has become an award-winning novelist with her Det dobbelte land (literally The Doubled Country, 2010) based on her family's drama in the former Yugoslavia.[44]
Current trends
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2017) |
Sales
In 2002, a total of 30 million books—or six for every person—were sold in Denmark, with one in five being in English.[45] Statistics for 2009 show that the book market, like other sectors, suffered a reduction of 9.1% in sales. These figures cover both the private and public sectors, including a surprising drop in book sales to schools.[46]
See also
References
- ^ "Literature" Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine, Danish foreign ministry. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Arrebo, Anders" article in Dansk biografisk Lexikon[1], p 345, retrieved January 2, 2009
- ^ Preminger, Alex and T. V. F. Brogan, et al., The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics, 1993. New York: MJF Books/Fine Communications
- ^ Andersen, Jens Kr. "Ludvig Holberg – Forfatterportræt" (in Danish). Arkiv for Dansk Litteratur. Archived from the original on 2007-08-04. Retrieved 2006-09-02.
- ^ Brandes, Georg (1884). Ludvig Holberg – et festskrift (in Danish). Copenhagen: Gyldendalske boghandels forlag. p. 1.
- ^ "Biography of Ludvig Holberg" Archived 2020-03-21 at the Wayback Machine, YourDictionary.com. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ "Johannes Ewald: Biografi", Kalliope. (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ "Jens Baggesen", Kalliope. (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2004.
- ^ "Hans Adolph Brorson", Den store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 15 April 2010.
- ^ "Johan Herman Wessel (1742–85)", Kalliope.org. (in Danish) Retrieved 16 April 2010.
- ^ "Guide to the Danish Golden Age: Literature" Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ "Adam Oehlenschläger", Den store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ "Bernhard Severin Ingemann" Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine, Guide to the Danish Golden Age. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ "N. F. S. Grundtvig" Archived 2007-07-03 at the Wayback Machine, Archiv for Dansk Litteratur. (in Danish) Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ Liukkonen, Petri. "Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875)". Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on 17 August 2008.
- ^ Liukkonen, Petri. "Søren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813–1855)". Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010.
- ^ "Søren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813–1855)", Philosophy Pages. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
- ^ "Det moderne Gennembrud", Den store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ^ "Henrik Pontoppidan", Den store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 21 April 2010.
- ^ Liukkonen, Petri. "Karl Gjellerup (1857–1919)". Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010.
- ^ "Jens Peter Jacobsen" Den store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ a b "Twentieth-Century Danish Literature", Enotes.com. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ Liukkonen, Petri. "Tove Ditlevsen". Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009.
- ^ "Klaus Rifbjerg" Archived 2011-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, Denmark.dk. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Dan Turèll", Den store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "Read books by Leif Davidsen", Amazon.com. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "Leif Davidsen", Fantastic Fiction. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "På udkig efter Hemingway af Leif Davidsen", Litteratursiden.dk. (in Danish) Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "Reuter, Bjarne", Forfatterweb. (in Danish) Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Bjarne Reuter" Archived 2012-03-06 at the Wayback Machine, Bogrummet.dk. (in Danish) Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Peter Høeg" Archived 2010-12-10 at the Wayback Machine, "Litteraturesiden.dk". (in Danish) Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ^ "Peter Høeg", FantasticFiction. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ^ "Jens Christian Grøndahl" Archived 2010-11-28 at the Wayback Machine, Literatursiden.dk. (in Danish). Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Jens Christian Grøndahl", FantasticFiction. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Benny Andersen Author Page from curbstone.org. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- ^ "Jane Aamund", Den store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Anders Bodelsen", Den store Danske (in Danish) Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Elsebeth Egholm". Goodreads.
- ^ "Christian Kampmann Biography", BookRags. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Svend Aage Madsen", Litteratursiden.dk. (in Danish) Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Winter's Child (Modern Scandinavian Literature in Translation)", Goodreads. Retrieved 2 May 2001.
- ^ Klaus Rothstein, "The spiral of catastrophe" Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine, Danish Literary Magazine. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ "Flaskepost fra P", JP/Politikens Forlagshus. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ "Birgithe Kosovic", Den Store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 22 March 1972.
- ^ "English Language Books take over the World" Archived 2014-03-25 at the Wayback Machine, Esperanto Association of Ireland. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Per Hedeman, "Året hvor den økonomiske krise også ramte forlagene"[permanent dead link], (The year when the economic crisis also hit publishers), Bogbarometret. (in Danish) Retrieved 2 May 2010.
External links
- The American Cyclopædia. 1879. .