Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/391



N he Swedish literature of the beginning of this century, the French academical school manifestly predominated, though it had lost its best talents. The foundation on which the foreign structure was built, was, however, in fact, completely undermined. The national tones, which had been heard, had not been unheeded by the people; on the contrary they had given far more satisfaction and pleasure than the rigid style of the Academy. Moreover, the correctness of the rules of taste which it established had been seriously questioned. The successful efforts made in Denmark by Ewald and Baggesen to establish a poetry on a genuine national foundation had contributed much to increase the desire in Sweden for an independent national poetry. But none of the opponents of the old school were well qualified to become the leader of the new, and the positive conditions for the latter were also wanting. As soon as these appeared the old school was doomed. The revolution of 1809, which was followed by an almost unrestricted freedom of the press, cleared the ground, and a more intimate acquaintance with modern German literature, particularly with Schelling's philosophy and the new romanticism based thereon, gave the decisive impulse. The banner of the new ideas was first raised by, around whom there soon