Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/402

384 Rikes Häfder," and "Svenska Folkets Historia." The former is a very lucid and thorough presentation of the saga-age, but unfortunately only the first volume was completed. Of the history of the Swedish people there appeared three volumes, bringing the history down to the time of Charles X. It is a perfect model of careful, conscientious research and clear style. The "Föreläsningar öfver menniskans historie" were published in 1856, after his death, which occurred in 1847, from notes that had been made for his lectures. It is. a philosophy of history, which with great emphasis sets forth the individual as the moving power in the development of the world. Of his other philosophical and historical works we may yet mention "Feodalismen och republikanismen," "Om vår tids inne samhälls-förhållanden," and "Tecking af Sveriges tillstånd och af de förnämsta handlande personer under tiden från Karl XII, död till Gustav III, anträde af regeringen," all of which are equally distinguished for elegance of style and solidity of contents. His essay "Thorild. Tillika en filosofisk eller ofilosofisk bekännelse," published in 1820, is very interesting, as it illustrates his position in regard to the religious questions of his time. The opinions he therein expressed in reference to the dogma of redemption and that of the holy trinity caused him a law suit, But he came out victorious as he justly deserved, for throughout his literary activity Geijer proved himself a man of truly religious character, though he did not approve of a blind faith, based simply on authority.

(1785-1871) became widely known by his translations of Old Norse poetry, the Edda, etc., and by his great work, "Svenska Folkets Sagohäfder," and in this manner he contributed his share to the development of the national element in the Swedish literature. Geijer published with him the first collection of Swedish popular songs (1814-16), to which by way of elucidation he added the excellent dissertation "Om den gamle nordiska Folkvisan."

After having labored for thirty years in the university