Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/328

310 "Udsigt over Norges Historie" are marked by a profound and thorough knowledge of his subject, and by a rare elegance of style.

Munch and Keyser have also done much in the way of editing old Norwegian and Icelandic works, especially such as are of immediate importance to Norwegian history, and in this branch of their activity they have found an able successor in (born 1817). Purely linguistic investigations were also ardently pursued by Munch, and his work in this direction has been continued by (born 1812), who has published an excellent Old Norse dictionary, and by. The latter has by his investigations of the runic monuments of the North, and by his critical editions of the Elder Edda, furnished with a learned apparatus of notes and commentaries, greatly aided a correct appreciation of both.

In the above review we have been able to give only the most important names from the history of modern Norwegian literature; still what we have said may suffice to show how vigorous the activity is in every direction. Many valuable works have already been produced and these give promise of an abundant harvest in the future. Like every other intellectual movement this literary renaissance too struggled forth into existence through much fermentation and strife. The conflicts have not yet ended, but there is every reason to hope that sound energies, fitted to promote a healthy popular life, will ultimately gain the upper hand.