ten, is somewhat insignificant, and the splendid tragedy, "Kungarne på Salamis." The latter was published in 1863, and was his last work. Having been made an invalid by an apoplectic stroke, he continued to live in Borgå, where, since 1837, he had been a lector at the gymnasium, and where he died May 6, 1877.
A poet with a talent so great and comprehensive as Runeberg's, whose poetry was based on a sound and harmonious view of life, could not fail to exercise a powerful influence, and the fact is, he produced, both in Finland and in Sweden, a tendency toward realism, and simplicity of style has gradually superseded the overstrained, pompous language of the first half of this century. In Finland he has been followed by a number of poets, who, in the best sense of the word, may be characterized as belonging to the Runeberg school. Their chief excellence consists in their efforts to produce in a clear, unaffected manner, vivid and pathetic descriptions of homely things and scenes. The most conspicuous representatives of this tendency are: Nervander (1805-48), chiefly a lyric poet; Cygnäus (born 1807), author of lyric and dramatic poems; Stenbäck (1811-70), a talented lyric poet; and 1, whose exquisite historical novels have already been mentioned. The latter's elegant lyric poems are exceedingly popular, and not less so his dramas, "Titians förste Kärlek " (Titian's first Love), "Prinsessan af Cypern," etc. His juvenile readers deserve special mention, for the prose and poetry they contain are very charming, and have a very stimulating influence on the young. Finally, Julius Vecksell (born 1838) deserves to be mentioned. Among his works, which by the way are not very numerous, the national tragedy, "Daniel Hjort," is unquestionably the most excellent, and it is one of the best dramas in Swedish literature. In his twenty-fifth year he was, unfortunately, afflicted by an incurable mental disease.[1]
- ↑ J. L. Runebergs samlade skrifter, I-II, Stockholm, 1876. Efterlemlade skrifter, I-III, Stockholm, 1878-9. Cygnäus: Om Runebergs Fänrik Ståls sägner,
