Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/108

90 (1786-1841), who in many of his poems displays a startling brilliancy, while he is at the same time exceedingly profound, touching, and tender.

The fact must not be forgotten that the strongly marked, original, Icelandic poetry has not in any way lessened the people's taste for the poetry produced in other forms and in other lands. Besides the chief works of Milton and Klopstock, already mentioned, there are also fine Icelandic translations of Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," of a series of Shakespeare's dramas, of Tegnér's Fridthjof's Saga, and of other works.

In other branches of poetry than that of lyrics but little of note has been produced in Iceland, excepting, of course, translations. Epic poetry is represented only by the novel, "Piltur ok Stulka" (the Boy and the Girl), a fresh and charming book in the style of Auerbach's and Björnson's peasant stories, giving an interesting picture of modern life in Iceland, and a romance, "Maður ok Kona" (Man and Wife), both by Josr Thordarson. That the conditions in Iceland are about as unfavorable for the development of dramatic literature as it is possible, is evident when we consider that the whole island has not more than 70,000 people, and that only 2,000 live in its metropolis, Reykjavik. Nevertheless, several remarkable efforts have been made during the present century in the field of the drama, especially by, who produced a few comedies (e.g., "Narfi," a satire on the Danish party in Iceland), and recently by and , who have written beautiful and original dramas on the basis of Icelandic popular tales.