Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/383

Rh its consequences, a fact sufficiently indicated by the titles of his works. In 1776-77 appeared "Mina Tidsfördrif på Gäldstufvan (my pastime in the debtor's prison); in 1780, "Mina Tidsfördrif på Högvakten," (my pastime at the police station); and in 1784-86 "Bacchi Handbibliothek, eller nya Tidsfördrif på Gäldstufvan." These works are collections of anecdotes, short stories, witty episodes, etc., partly from his own experiences and partly such as he had heard from others. They are mostly of but little value, but they betray wit and humor and at the same time a great deal of levity. His comedies rank much higher, and are even yet the best of which Sweden can boast in this rather poorly represented branch of her literature. Nor is he entirely original in this work either, but he borrows his ideas and materials whereever he finds them, at the same time transforming the foreign elements so skilfully that they acquire a perfectly national Swedish color. The dialogue and the action are bright, and the author's vivacity approaches at times the verge of real humor. His most successful comedies, which sometimes incline to be farcical, are "Kapten Puff eller Storprataren," and "Michel Wingler eller bättra vara brödlös an rådlös." In some of his works he attempted a serious style, in which he was not, however, very successful. In his poems he tried to imitate Bellman and even equalled him in form and in sparkling humor, but he ranks far below him in depth of thought and power of imagination.

(1732-1800) is chiefly known as a dramatist. He wrote mainly parodies on the operas and tragedies in French style, then in vogue, or bold farces, which, like Kexél's pieces, in spite of, or perhaps on account of, their coarseness, were very successful. In the last one of his comedies (which is also his best one), "Tillfället gör tjufven" (Opportunity makes the thief), in which he has introduced couplets with airs from Bellman, Hallman has successfully freed himself from the burlesque, and