Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/291

Rh eral attention of the public by a short poem written in 1839, in the memory of Frederik VI, soon after the death of the king, and which he expressed in a simple and impressive manner the sorrows of the whole people. Much popularity was also attained by his cycle of romances, "Den lille Hornblæser" (The little trumpeter), which in a plain and direct manner presents episodes from the war of 1848-50. In addition to a number of poems and sympathetic pictures from the south, he has also written a series of tales in verse, "Fra min Ungdom" (From my Youth).

Among less important names the following are yet to be mentioned: (1798-1873), who gained much reputation as a writer of plays. They have this in common with the plays of Herz—to which they are not, however, equal—that they are based on the national dramatic foundation laid by Heiberg in his vaudevilles. His great work, "Den danske Skueplads; dens Historie fra de förste Spor af danske Skuespil indtil vor Tid" (The Danish Theater and its history from the earliest traces of Danish plays down to our time), is a production of great value. (1791-1853) is mainly known as the author of dramas, among which are "Juta" and "William Shakespeare," but he also wrote very charming, both secular and sacred, songs. (1795-1874) wrote a detailed and valuable life of Thorwaldsen and edited important collections of Danish popular legends. Two works in which he gives an account of his own life, "Erindringer fra Bakhehuset," that is, Rahbek's dwelling, and "Af mit Livs Aarböger," contain important contributions to the history of the culture of his time. His dramatic and lyric works are, however, of but slight value. Of the many works of the talented poet Franz Johannes Hansen (1810-52) the novel "Let Sind og Letsind" (A light mind and lightmindedness) is the most successful. During the fourth decade of the century (born 1813) wrote under the pseudonym Jean Pierre several theological and philosophical dissertations and