Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/427

Rh nent. From early childhood he had lived in the most needy circumstances, and he had frequently suffered almost absolute want. Thus after studying a few years, he was compelled to leave the University in order to eke out an existence as a journeyman printer, and later he earned a precarious living by reading proofs, etc. Still he had the strength of character to devote himself to profound historical studies, and this he did with such signal success, that his first published work forthwith attracted great attention, and secured him assistance from the government and from the Academy, of which he afterward became a member. His best works are: "Svenska Folkets historia under Konungarne af Vasaätten," of which only three volumes appeared; "Svenska folkets historia från äldsta till närvarande tider;" and "Sveriges historia i sammandrag." Both these works are incomplete, the former closing with the year 1319, the latter with Gustav Vasa. Strinholm does not possess Geijer's genial method of discovering the finer threads of history; but while Geijer distinguishes himself by his grand summaries, and is able, with a few vigorous strokes, to shed the brightest light on persons and events, we find in Strinholm a careful comparison of all the facts bearing on the interpretation of a single phenomenon, and these are frequently arranged and grouped with a skill and art that remind us of the epic poet, and his language is remarkably clear, simple and dignified.

(1795-1881) has written the Swedish history for the people, and this he has done on a magnificent plan, his "Berättelser ur svenska historien," being a work of forty-four volumes. The narration is vivid and interesting, though not altogether reliable. Persons and events are frequently presented from a somewhat one-sided standpoint. Among the numerous works on various epochs in Swedish history we may mention: *'s (born 1811) excellent "Sveriges historia under Konungarne af Pfalziska huset," which may be regarded as a continuation