Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/415

Rh ligheten," are exceedingly well written. He had at his service a vivid imagination and keen faculties for observation, and he displays them to excellent advantage in his short, cheerful description of Stockholm life, while his long novels are frequently lacking in the development of the plot. Blanche was a very successful dramatist. Among his plays we may mention "Magister Blackstadius" and "Om politiska Rocken," which deal with the social life of Stockholm. They abound in humor and amusing situations, but do not satisfy the strict laws of the drama.

Swedish literature is rich in historical novels. The ground was first broken by (born 1789), who, after the publication of a few small poems, produced, in 1828, "Tord Bonde," a novel in the style of Walter Scott. On account of the graphic historical pictures it contained the book was received with favor, and justified the greatest expectations for the future. The latter were not, however, satisfied, as the author did not complete his story, and wrote no more novels. In his old age he wrote the epic poem, "Engelbrekt." (1790-1871) based his novels, "Den siste friseglaren" and "Standaret," on comprehensive historical studies, and they are accordingly faithful and interesting pictures of their time. In the widely read novel "Snapphanarne," by the still unknown pseudonym O. K., the historical materials serve merely as a framework for the romantic descriptions. (born 1803) treads in his "Blomman på Kinnekulle" and "Sivard Kruses bröllop," the middle way, satisfying the claims of history and romance at the same time. (1793-1849), who, in his early youth, produced some rather insignificant poems in a marked Phosphoristic, romantic spirit, subsequently wrote several historical novels, of which the best are "Seton," a sketch from the times of Gustav III, and "De Sammansvurna," descriptions from the times of Charles XII and Frederick I.