Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/298

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LITERATURE OF THE SCANDINAVIAN NORTH.

of years. He has made a special study of Egyptian mythology.[1]

Herman Frederik Ewald (born 1821) published his first book, "Waldemar Krones Ungdomshistorie," in 1859. It is a well executed picture of modern life, and was followed by several similar stories, "Johannes Falk," "Familien Nordby," "Hvad Ellen vilde," in all of which the author gave abundant proof of his skill as a character painter. In later times he has devoted himself to the historical novel, and produced many creditable works in this field, among which we may mention "Svenskerne paa Kronborg," "Den skotske Kvinde paa Tjele," etc. What gives these books a particularly high value is the fact that Ewald studies with great care the epoch to which his story belongs, and then faithfully utilizes the results gained, and thus his novels are important as pictures containing the history of culture.[2]

Thomas Lange (born 1829) has a rare talent for describing nature, especially in its wild and grand aspects, and for bringing nature and man into such a relation to each other that they seem mutually to call for and explain each other. His greatest work is "Aaen og Havet" (the river and the sea).[3]

Wilhelm Bergsöe (born 1835) was originally a naturalist, but on account of the weakness of his eyes he was compelled to abandon this study. He employed his involuntary leisure in the composition of novels, and being in possession of a lively fancy and powerful descriptive faculties, his stories

  1. ↑ Meyer A. Goldschmidt: En Jöde, Copenhagen, 1845. Hjemlos, Copenhagen, 1857. Fortællinger og Skildringer, Copenhagen, 1863-65. Arvingen, Copenhagen, 1867. Smaa Fortællinger, Copenhagen, 1869. Kjærlighedshistorier fra mange Lande, Copenhagen, 1868. Livserindringer og Resultater, I-II, Copenhagen, 1877. Fortællinger og Virkelighedsbilleder, I-II. Copenhagen, 1877.
  2. ↑ H. F. Ewald: Valdemar Krones Ungdomshistorie, Copenhagen, 1860. Familien Nordby, Copenhagen, 1862. Johannes Falk, Copenhagen, 1865. Hvad Ellen vilde, Copenhagen, 1869. Svenskerne paa Kronborg, Copenhagen, 1867. Den skotske Kvinde paa Tjele, Copenhagen, 1871. Knud Gyldenstjerne, Copenhagen, 1875. Niels Brahe, Copenhagen, 1877.
  3. ↑ Thomas Lange: Eventyrets Land, Copenhagen, 1868. Aaen og Havet, Copenhagen, 1870. Nyt Liv, Copenhagen, 1879.
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