The foreign cosmopolitan ideal in Danish literature was promoted in an independent manner by a small circle of men, who were engaged as teachers in the Sorö academy for nobles. They took the French as models, but sought at the same time, as far as possible, to preserve the national peculiarities. Among them were Jens Kraft and Andreas Schytte, who rendered conspicuous services by the publication of popular philosophical works, and preeminently Jens Sneedorf (1724—64), who, on account of his splendid style, gained the reputation of being Denmark's most classical writer. From 1761-63 he published the popular and very widely circulated weekly journal called "Den patriotiske Tilskuer."[1]
In general it may be said that periodical literature made marked progress about this time, and became one of the most efficient means of diffusing that "general culture" which all desired, and which so many offered for sale; but only a few of these journals were of any real value. The most able and influential ones were "Minerva" and "den danske Tilskuer." The former began in 1785, and was founded by Pram and Rahbek; the latter was founded in 1791 and edited by Rahbek alone. Both continued through a long series of years—the best evidence that they satisfied the general expectations. Both publishers were exceptionally well fitted for their task; they were untiring in their efforts in gathering interesting and reliable news, and in furnishing their readers with interesting and instructive matter. Among the varied contents of these periodicals, which faithfully recorded the events of the time, there are many things that may still be read with interest, irrespective of the great value of these collections for the history of culture.
Kristen Henriksen Pram (1756-1821) combined vast knowledge with indefatigible activity, and his productiveness in several departments was simply extraordinary. He also essayed poetry, but without achieving anything noteworthy
- ↑ J. Sneedorf's collected works I-IX, Copenhagen, 1775-77.
