The Jutland Movement or folkelige realister [popular realists], were a group of loosely affiliated Danish writers. Their writing style, which dealt with the rural life of the Jutland peasants, formed them into a group. They existed around the turn of the twentieth century.
73-515: Members of the group were Jeppe Aakjær , Marie Bregendahl , Johannes V. Jensen (arguably the most successful member of the group), Thit Jensen , Knud Hjortø , Johan Skjoldborg , Martin Andersen Nexø , Thøger Larsen , and Jakob Knudsen . This article about an organization in Denmark is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a literary movement
146-589: A collection of earlier writing, Derude fra Kjærne (Out There from the Watering Holes, 1899). In time a rift formed between the two over a couple of issues. First, Aakjær did not like the choice of covers that Oscar had chosen. Second, he felt that the marketing ability of Oscar was severely limited, and finally, when Jeppe wanted to release a collection of shorts stories as a single book, Oscar objected and instead broke it into two. The collection, Vadmelsfolk: Hedefortællinger (Homespunfolk: Heath Stories, 1900)
219-459: A fresh love of nature and sentimental nostalgia . Some of his poems are written in dialect. Among his best known are the beloved Jeg er Havren ("I am the Oats"); Jens Vejmand , a tribute to the worn-out roadmender; Jutland (English translation by J. A. Peehl); and Historiens Sang ("The Song of History"). As a poet, he shows himself an agitator, writing battle songs for the working class. Aakjær
292-608: A friend convinced him to finish in it 1907, it became a commercial success, even though he was not very happy with the actor's ability to capture the nuances of Jutland. His next play, Ulvens Søn: Skuespil i fire Akter (The Wolf's Son: Play in Four Acts, 1909) brought with it social ideas similar to Vredens Børn . In 1911 he released what he felt was his best play, Naar Bønder elsker: Skuespil i femn Akter (When Peasant's Love: Play in Five Acts, 1911), which did not receive as good
365-612: A great success and gathered huge audiences. His famous opening lecture on 3 November 1871, Hovedstrømninger i det 19de Aarhundredes Litteratur (English: Main Currents in the Literature of the Nineteenth Century ), signalled the beginning of his lifelong struggle to modernize Danish literature. After the professorship of aesthetics became vacant in 1872, it was taken as a matter of course that Brandes would fill it. But
438-553: A literary masterpiece, and a major contribution to Danish literary history. His next project deviated from his typical fare and in 1905 and 1906, he released a series of poetic pieces: Fri Felt: En Digstamlin (Open Field: A Poem Collection, 1905), Rugens Sange og Andre Digte (Songs of the Rye and Other Poems, 1906). The second book was generally considered to be his best work ever, and it contains Jens Langkniv (Jens Longknife). He wrote these poems while living with friends, and instead of
511-1003: A narrator who changes them to suit the Jutlandic dialect and also to fit the social and cultural environment. Critics claimed the work was blasphemous, whereas he felt that it made the Biblical stories more accessible. He continued to write with religious and socially critical themes with, among others, Hvor der er gjærende Kræfter: Landarbejderroman (Where There are Fermenting Powers: Farmworker Novel, 1916), Af min Hjemstavns Saga: Lidt Bondehistorie (From My Provincial Sage: Little Farmer Story, 1919). He also continued to write his idyllic poetry in several collections, Vejr og Vind og Folkesind: Digte (Rain and Wind and Folkspirit: Poems, 1916), Hjærtegræs og Ærenpris: Digtsamling (Quaking Grass and Speedwell: Poem Collection, 1921), and Under Aftenstjernen: Digte (Under
584-405: A political slant, they dealt with the beauty of rural life. He would later reminisce about inspiration for the poems being long walks by himself, where he would stamp out the rhythm with his feet as he was creating the words. A lot of the inspiration came from Robert Burns , who Jeppe felt was able to capture the nuances of rural dialect, the beauty of the land, the emotions of the farmers life, and
657-471: A reception as his earlier plays. His last two plays, Himmelbjærgpræsten: Et Skuespil (The Minister of Himmelbjæarg: A Play, 1917) and Rejsegildet: Skuespil i 5 Akter (The Going-Away Party: Play in 5 Acts, 1925) were never performed. In 1911, he published his most controversial work, Af Gammel Jehannes hans Bivelskistaarri: En bette Bog om stur' Folk (From Old Jehanne's Bible Stories: A Little Book about Big Folk, 1911), where he retells biblical stories per
730-3709: A salute to nature, in contrast to his otherwise very political agitation and writing. Havren is a poem in twelve verses, and a melody was composed for it in 1917 by Aksel Agerby. Today, only seven or eight of the original twelve verses are sung, and the song is often referred to as Jeg er havren (I am the oats). HAVREN Jeg er Havren. Jeg har Bjælder paa, mer end tyve, tror jeg, paa hvert Straa. Bonden kalder dem for mine Fold. Gud velsigne ham, den Bondeknold! Jeg blev saaet, mens glade Lærker sang over grønne Banker Dagen lang; Humlen brumled dybt sin Melodi, og et Rylefløjt gled ind deri. Viben fløj om Brak og Pløjemand og slog Kryds for baade Plov og Spand. Kryds slog Bonden ogsaa over mig for at gi’ mig Helse med paa Vej. Mens i Dug jeg groede Fod for Fod, groede Sangen sammen med min Rod; den, som ydmyg lægger Øret til, hører Lærkens Triller i mit Spil. Det kan kolde Hjærner ej forstaa Jeg er Lærkesangen paa et Straa, Livets Rytme døbt i Sommerdræ, mer end Gumlekost for Øg og Fæ. Søndenvinden, o! han har mig kjær; derfor kan han aldrig la’ mig vær’, smyger sig med Hvisken til mig ind nu ved højre, nu ved venstre Kind. Naar han puster paa min gule Top, maa jeg vugge med ham ned og op, indtil alle mine Bjælder gaar, som naar gyldne Hamre sammen slaar. Juniregnen gjorde myg min Muld, Julisolen gav mig af sit Guld, Sundhed risler mig i Top og Skaft. Det er derfra Plagen har sin Kraft. Jeg er Ven med Dug og Grødevejr, Ven med Landets lyse Bøgetræer, Ven med al den danske Sæd, som gror øst for Hav som vest for Sund og Fjord. Jeg faar Solens sidste lange Blink, før den dukker ned bag gullig Brink, og naar Aftenklokken ringer Fred, staar jeg paa min Taa og ringler med. Jeg skal ringle Barnet til dets Seng, ringle Taagen op af Sump og Eng, ringle Freden over Hjemmet ind, ringle Bønnen frem i fromme Sind. Jeg er Havren. Mine Bjælder gaar over lyse Vange Aar for Aar, ringler om, hvor Sang og Kjærve gror herligt sammen paa den danske Jord. Jeppe Aakjær JEG ER HAVREN Jeg er havren. Jeg har bjælder på, mer end tyve, tror jeg, på hvert strå. Bonden kalder dem for mine fold. Gud velsigne ham, den bondeknold! Jeg blev sået, mens glade lærker sang over grønne banker dagen lang; humlen brumled dybt sin melodi, og et rylefløjt gled ind deri. Mens i dug jeg groede fod for fod, groede sangen sammen med min rod; den, som ydmyg lægger øret til, hører lærkens triller i mit spil. Det kan kolde hjerner ej forstå: Jeg er lærkesangen på et strå, livets rytme døbt i sommerdræ, mer end gumlekost for øg og fæ. Jeg er ven med dug og grødevejr. ven med landets lyse bøgetræer, ven med al den danske sæd, som gror øst for hav og vest for sund og fjord. Jeg får solens sidste lange blink, før den dukker ned bag gullig brink, og når aftenklokken ringer fred, står jeg på min tå og ringler med. Jeg skal ringle barnet til dets seng, ringle tågen op af sump og eng, ringle freden over hjemmet ind, ringle bønnen frem i fromme sind. Jeg er havren. Mine bjælder går over lyse vange år for år, ringler om, hvor sang og kærve gror herligt sammen på den danske jord. Højskolesangbogen (v. 3 and 6-8 are left out) George Brandes Georg Morris Cohen Brandes (4 February 1842 – 19 February 1927)
803-417: A small publisher, Danske Forfatteres Forlag . His relationship with Gyldendal was not always good as in time he grew to resent them and felt they were too demanding. He also did not, initially, have a good agreement with them, as he was allotted 150 kroner advance each month (enough to keep him above the subsistence level). However, with this advance he needed to produce a substantial amount of work, which he
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#1732765935098876-529: A social democratic publication, he became a parliamentary correspondent and started to make more of a name for himself. He remained with this paper until 1903. Later in life, Jeppe would not look back fondly on his time as a newspaper man, as he felt they robbed him of his productivity. He did however keep a lasting relationship with Brandes, who continued to give good reviews to his books. In 1899, he wrote his first major literary piece, Bondens Søn (The Peasant's Son), in which in an autobiographical manner relates
949-574: A split of the liberal party Venstre in 1905 and created the new party Det Radikale Venstre . Georg Brandes was born into a non-observant Jewish middle-class family in Copenhagen , the elder brother of prominent Danes Ernst Brandes and Edvard Brandes . He became a student at the University of Copenhagen in 1859 where he first studied jurisprudence . From this, however, his interests soon turned to philosophy and aesthetics . In 1862 he won
1022-516: A supporter of the Venstre party (liberal). This influenced Jeppe as he showed strong liberal leanings early on. At the farm that the family lived, his grandfather also resided, in an arrangement called aftægt , which was where the parents cede ownership of the farm/business in trade for room and board until death. This system did not work well in many cases, and in Jeppe's family's case, his grandfather
1095-488: A swath of land that he had purchased in 1905 into his farm, Jenle. He then, that same year, married for the second time, this time to Nanna Krog , an artist. This marriage was the opposite of his first, as it was happy and long. Together they had two children, Esben, a son, and Solvejg, a girl. 1908, saw the state issuing him an 800 kroner stipend annually, which along with his publishing money ensured financial security. In 1910, Jeppe started what would become an annual event,
1168-558: A whole new school of writers and thinkers eager to receive him as their leader. He headed the group "Det moderne Gjennembruds Mænd" ( The Men of the Modern Breakthrough ), composed of J. P. Jacobsen , Holger Drachmann , Edvard Brandes, Erik Skram, Sophus Schandorph , and Norwegians Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson , but a conservative reaction against his "realistic" doctrines began around 1883, headed by Holger Drachmann. Among his later writings must be mentioned
1241-487: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Jeppe Aakj%C3%A6r Jeppe Aakjær (10 September 1866 – 22 (23) April 1930) was a Danish poet and novelist , a member of the ' Jutland Movement ' in Danish literature". A regionalist, much of his writings was about his native Jutland . He was known for writings that reflected his concern for the impoverished and for describing rural existence. Jeppe
1314-401: Is a literary figure of transition between old rural culture and modern socialist agitation. As a castigator of society, he was popular, even among his opponents. His first wife was the author Marie Bregendahl, known for her regionalist works. Aakjær's poem Havren (The Oats) was first published in his poetry collection " Vejr og Vind og Folkesind " from 1916. As his other poetry, it is mostly
1387-459: Is a rural Danish answer to Upton Sinclair 's The Jungle and in many ways caused the same effect but on a lesser scale. He also wrote Hvor Bønder bor ( "Where Farmers Live" ) (1908), Arbejdets Glæde ( "The Joy of Work" ) (1914), and Jens Langkniv (1915), about a Danish highwayman becoming a guerrilla fighter against the Germans in the 17th century. Many tales and short stories tell about
1460-450: Is not merely in name that this irony bears a fundamental resemblance to Kierkegaard's, which also aristocratically 'chooses to be misunderstood'. The Ego of genius is the truth, if not in the sense in which Kierkegaard would have us understand his proposition, ' Subjectivity is the truth', still in the sense that the Ego has every externally valid commandment and prohibition in its power; and, to
1533-429: Is one of the most beloved Danish poets of the 20th Century. As a Jutlandish regionalist and dialect writer he is the heir of Blicher . But he was also inspired by Robert Burns , whose Auld lang syne he translated into Jutlandish dialect. Together with Johannes Vilhelm Jensen and Martin Andersen Nexø he is one of the outstanding "new realists" from the 1910s though never that famous outside Denmark. In many ways he
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#17327659350981606-430: Is very good. It is, permit me to say, the cleverest thing that I have yet read about myself". In 1909 the lectures were edited and published as the monograph Friedrich Nietzsche , which included the complete Nietzsche/Brandes correspondence as well as two essays in homage to the late Nietzsche's life and thought. Translated into English by A. G. Chater, the volume was published by Heinemann in 1914 and Nietzsche's thought
1679-678: The Jenlefest , a folk festival. These would become famous for their mix of politics, literary figures, and farmers. They would continue until 1929. 1907, also saw him branch into the dramatic, as he wrote the piece, Livet paa Hegnsgaard: Bondekomedie i fire Akter (Life at Hegns Farm: Rural Comedy in Four Acts). The play was originally written (most of it) in 1901, but was rejected by the Folketeater (People's Theater) in Copenhagen. When
1752-578: The Lutheran movement of Vilhelm Beck , called the Inner Mission . Here he postulates the danger involved in it, partly for the fact that it was becoming rural in nature and appearing in the areas that he loved. Brandes was impressed with his work and promoted him to contributor (journalist). After some time he switched to the newspaper København , where he spent a few uneventful years. In 1899, after switching again, this time to Provinspresse ,
1825-477: The Social Democratic Party . He moved to Copenhagen and worked as a proofreader and journalist . In the winter of 1887-1888 Jeppe travelled to Askov , where he studied at the folk school. From there he moved to Elbæk , where he stayed until 1890. At Elbæk, he taught at the school, but after the short taste of teaching decided that that was not the life for him. 1890 saw him drafted into
1898-455: The 1900s, Brandes fought the Danish political establishment on several occasions, but eventually had to curb his acidic attacks. However, his international reputation was growing. In many ways he emulated his own assessment of Voltaire , as an author against habitual thinking, hypocrisy and the thin veneer of morality. He condemned the maltreatment of national minorities , the persecution of Alfred Dreyfus , etc. During World War I, he condemned
1971-719: The Evening Star: Poems, 1927). As he neared the end of his life, Jeppe focused more on his memoirs and also historical writing. His memoirs filled four volumes, Fra min Bitte-Tid: En Kulturhistorisk Sevbiografi (From My Childhood: A Cultural Historical Autobiography, 1928), Drengeaar og Knøseaar: Kilderne Springer og Bækken gaar (Boyhood Years and Laddish Years: The Wells Spring and the Stream Flows, 1929), Før det dages: Minder fra Halvfemserne (Before Dawn: Memories from
2044-539: The Modern Transition (1883), and his Essays (1889), are volumes essential to the proper study of modern Scandinavian literature . He wrote an excellent book on Poland (1888; English translation, 1903), and was one of the editors of the German version of Ibsen. The most important of his later works was his study of William Shakespeare (1897–1898), which was translated into English by William Archer and
2117-594: The Nineties, 1929), and Efterladte Erindringer: Fra Tiden Omkring Aarhundred-Skiflet og Fremefter (Posthumous Memories: From Times around the Turn of the Century and Afterwards, 1934). Most of his autobiographical works were written while sick in bed from a bout with gangrene. He died two years later from a heart attack. As a member of the so-called Jutland Movement , his focus in writing was on his native land. Others in
2190-608: The Norwegian " realist " playwright Henrik Ibsen . When Georg Brandes held a series of lectures in 1871 with the title "Main Currents in 19th-century Literature", he defined the Modern Breakthrough and started the movement that would become Cultural Radicalism . In 1884 Viggo Hørup , Georg Brandes, and his brother Edvard Brandes started the daily newspaper Politiken with the motto: "The paper of greater enlightenment". The paper and their political debates led to
2263-631: The Present Day , dealing chiefly with Hippolyte Taine , Criticisms and Portraits , and a translation of The Subjection of Women by John Stuart Mill , whom he had met that year during a visit to England. Brandes now took his place as the leading northern European critic, applying to local conditions and habits of thought the methods of Taine. He became Docent or reader in Aesthetics at the University of Copenhagen, where his lectures were
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2336-405: The Rye"; 1906) and Heimdal 's Wanderings (1924), reveal his appreciation for the harvest. Because of their lyrical quality, many of these poems were used as settings for songs by various 20th Century Scandinavian composers, such as Carl Nielsen . In these songs he sings of the moors of his region, the areas of his childhood and the poor life in the country, often switching between harsh realism,
2409-443: The astonishment and scandal of the world, invariably expresses itself in paradoxes. Irony is 'divine audacity'. In audacity thus comprehended there are endless possibilities. It is freedom from prejudice, yet it suggests the possibility of the most audacious defence of all possible kinds of prejudices. It is more easily attainable, we are told, by woman than by man. 'Like the feminine garb, the feminine intellect has this advantage over
2482-621: The course of his youth, heard and remembered many stories, anecdotes, fables, and other literary short pieces. He, over the course of the next several years gathered and submitted hundreds of submissions. In all, over three hundred narratives, riddles, and songs were submitted, the majority of which were published. His book Jydske Folkeminder VIII: Sagn og Overtro fra Jylland (Jutlandic Folklore VIII: Legends and Superstitions from Jutland, 1886) contained at least 77 of these prior published works. He also submitted names for Evald to research more on her own and he shared his success by sending him copies of
2555-453: The day-to-day rhythms of the existence. In his piece, Esper Tækki: En Sallingbo-Empe (Esper Tækki: A Salling Imp, 1913), he drew on Robert Burns' poem Tam O'Shanter . In 1906, Aakjær received the fellowship, Anckerske Legat (Anckerske Scholarship), and commenced to tour Europe with his friend Lauritz Larsen. After a period of time on the continent, he went to Scotland by himself to connect with and be inspired by Robert Burn's work. It
2628-522: The discussion of the works of Rasmus Nielsen in "Dualism in our Recent Philosophy". From 1865 to 1871 he traveled much in Europe, acquainting himself with the condition of literature in the principal centers of learning. His first important contribution to letters was his Aesthetic Studies (1868), where his maturer method is already foreshadowed in several brief monographs on Danish poets. In 1870 he published several important volumes, The French Aesthetics of
2701-551: The farm and on other farms. It was during this time that he also began to tour and lecture at the Folk High Schools . His lectures had a political twist to them and he tried to "wake the spirit of resistance" within the laborers and farmers. The government felt at times that he crossed the line and became seditious and at the age of 20, he was sent to jail for speaking in Viborg . Being an outspoken socialist Aakjær joined
2774-550: The first time in a complete and popular edition and began to work on a German edition, completed in 1902. He published Main Currents in Nineteenth-Century Literature in 1906 (six volumes). This book was among the 100 best books for education selected in 1929 by Will Durant . Durant and Brandes were both contributors to the Mother Earth magazine. In Volume 2 Brandes says about Kierkegaard, "It
2847-468: The goal of obtaining his teacher degree. He did not finish as he left just after his preliminary exams. His first experience with writing was while he attended the school in Staby, in 1883. He started contributing material for the journal Skattegraveren (The Treasure Hunter), which was edited by Evald Tang Kristensen. This journal specialized in folklore, of which Jeppe was fascinated with. Jeppe had, over
2920-606: The gold medal of the university for an essay on The Idea of Nemesis among the Ancients . Before this, indeed since 1858, he had shown a remarkable gift for verse-writing, the results of which, however, were not abundant enough to justify separate publication. Brandes did not collect his poems until as late as 1898. At the university, which he left in 1864, Brandes was influenced by the writings of Heiberg in criticism and Søren Kierkegaard in philosophy, influences which continued to leave traces on his work. In 1866, he contributed to
2993-552: The government of Denmark had made it mandatory for all children, was not important to most rural families, his being no exception. He initially spent more time working on the farm than at school. This changed in 1882, when a teacher by the name of Niels Jakobsen started teaching at the school at Fly. He convinced his parents to send him to Staby to attend one of the Folk High Schools . Then in 1884 his parents allowed him to travel to Copenhagen . He attended Blaagaard's Teacher's College . Here he studied intensively with Jakobsen to with
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3066-753: The group included Johannes V. Jensen and Jakob Knudsen . Rather than forming a physical group they were grouped by their love of their native land and their love of writing about that land. As Jeppe grew older he wondered why the movement never had an actual leader. He states in his memoirs', Alle de andre Litteraturretninger havde fra første Færd haft en Fører. Romantikken havde Johan Ludvig Heiberg og adskillige andre. Realism fra '70erne havde altid Georg Brandes, den utrætteligste Lansedrager, for den ny Tid. Halvfemsernes Maaneskindsmænd havde C. E. Jensen ... Men den jydske Retning fik ikke sin egen Kritiker. Den Mand kom aldrig frem og har ikke vist sig endnu, der forstod den inderste Nerve i den jydske Retnings Litteratur. All
3139-524: The humble, bad life of farm boys and grooms and are written with a visceral anger and a fighting spirit. He also wrote some plays, such as Livet paa Hegnsgaard , ( "Life at the Hegn Farm" ) (1907), and a biography on his predecessor, Steen Steensen Blicher . Today, it is his poetry for which he is chiefly known. His poems, including the famous Fri felt ("Free Fields"; 1905), the Rugens sange ("Songs of
3212-531: The immediacy of the folk performance as well as the Jutlandic dialect. Another good example of the ability to meld folklore with legendary themes was his early book Jens Langkniv: Af Fjends Herreds Krønike bog (Jens Longknife: From the Chronicles of the Fjend District, 1915). In this book he showed his skill at the folktale mixing with historical aspects of 16th-century Danish witchcraft. This ability
3285-514: The industry. He was hired, first, as a proofreader/copy editor, and, second, as a journalist. His first job as a copy editor was at the Left Reform newspaper Politiken , which was run by Edvard Brandes . While working at this newspaper, Jeppe first made a name for himself with his Missionen og dens Høvding (The Mission and its Chieftain, 1897). In this piece, he attacks the concept of Christianity in general, and in particular goes after
3358-506: The journals for many years. This relationship would last a lifetime. He would use these early forays into writing throughout his career to fill many a page. His book Po fir glowend Pæl: Fra jen si bitte Tid: En Sagnsamling (On Four Glowing Posts: From My Childhood: A Myth Collection, 1923) was a compilation of 26 of these legends, set on a foggy night in Davbjærg Pass. With this and others he would demonstrate his ability at expressing
3431-466: The life of a teacher was not for him. He returned to Copenhagen to continue his education, this time in History. In 1893, he met and married Marie Bregendahl . This relationship, which produced one son, Svend, was not a highlight of his life and the seven years that he remained married to Marie were years he would rather forget. During these latter student years, he became more involved in the politics of
3504-451: The lynchpin of criticism against modernity in its entirety. At the same time, some socialists criticized his elitist attitudes, while some feminists have regarded his attitude of sexual equality as being inconsequential. His brother Edvard (1847–1931), also a well-known critic, was the author of a number of plays, and of two psychological novels: A Politician (1889), and Young Blood (1899). He became an outstanding political figure of
3577-445: The masculine, that its possessor by a single daring movement can rise above all the prejudices of civilization and bourgeois conventionality, at once transporting herself into the state of innocence and the lap of Nature'. The lap of Nature! There is an echo of Rousseau 's voice even in this wanton tirade. We seem to hear the trumpet-call of revolution; what we really hear is only the proclamation of reaction. Rousseau desired to return to
3650-419: The middle of these polemics, Brandes began to issue volumes of the most ambitious of his works, Main Currents in the Literature of the Nineteenth Century , of which four volumes appeared between 1872 and 1875 (English translation, 1901–1905). The brilliant novelty of this criticism of the literature of major European countries at the beginning of the 19th century, and his description of the general revolt against
3723-460: The military, where he was initially placed in the infantry at Skive . After a period of time he was relocated to Copenhagen , which also did not last long. Six weeks after his initial conscription, he was discharged due to vision problems. After his military career ended, he needed more money and tried his hand at teaching once again. He first returned to Elbæk into 1891, then moved to a school run by Morten Pontoppidan. In 1892, he again decided that
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#17327659350983796-613: The monographs on Søren Kierkegaard (1877), Esaias Tegnér (1878), Benjamin Disraeli (1878), Ferdinand Lassalle (in German, 1877), Ludvig Holberg (1884), Henrik Ibsen (1899) and on Anatole France (1905). Brandes wrote with great depth on the main contemporary poets and novelists of Denmark and Norway, and he and his disciples were for a long time the arbiters of literary success in the north. His Danish Poets (1877), containing studies of Carsten Hauch , Ludvig Bødtcher , Christian Winther and Frederick Paludan-Müller , his Men of
3869-545: The national aggression and imperialism on both sides and his last years were dedicated to anti-religious polemic. In this late period he made new connections to intellectuals like Henri Barbusse and Romain Rolland when he was co-signer in the foundation of Clarté , as well as E. D. Morel . Brandes argued against the historicity of Jesus and was a proponent of the Christ myth theory . He published Sagnet om Jesus which
3942-778: The other Literary Movements had from the beginning a guide. Romanticism had Johan Ludvig Heiberg and assorted others. Realism from the 1870s had Georg Brandes, the most tireless point man for the new age. Nineties moonlight men had CE Jensen ... But the Jutlandic School never had his own critic. That man never came forward and still has not to this very day, who understood the inner nerve in the Jutland School's Literature. Aakjær's notable novels, including Bondens Søn ( "The Peasant's Son" ) (1899) and Vredens børn, et tyendes saga ( "Children of Wrath: A Hired Man's Saga" ) (1904), reveal his staunch social commitment. The latter
4015-609: The pseudo-classicism of the 18th century, at once attracted attention outside Denmark. The tumult which gathered round the person of the critic increased the success of the work, and the reputation of Brandes grew apace, especially in Germany and Russia . In 1877 Brandes left Copenhagen and settled in Berlin, taking a considerable part in the aesthetic life of that city. His political views, however, made Prussia uncomfortable with him, and he returned in 1883 to Copenhagen, where he found
4088-451: The school, and was even elected to the executive committee. He held that position for several years. In 1895, he received his studentereksamen (bachelor's degree) and in 1896 his candidatus degree. He continued to study history at the University of Copenhagen for the next two years, after which he abandoned his academic career due to the economics of his life and started writing professionally. He then commenced to obtain his first jobs in
4161-501: The source of culture. In this period, he discovered Friedrich Nietzsche , not only introducing him to Scandinavian culture but indirectly to the whole world. The series of lectures that he gave on Nietzsche's thought, which he described as "aristocratic radicalism", were the first to present Nietzsche as a world cultural figure in need of full intellectual notice. Of Brandes' description of his philosophy, Nietzsche himself remarked: "The expression 'aristocratic radicalism', which you employ,
4234-439: The state of nature, when men roamed naked through the pathless forests and lived upon acorns. Schelling wished to turn the course of evolution back to the primeval ages, to the days before man had fallen. Schlegel blows revolutionary melodies on the great romantic 'wonder-horn'." In the late 1880s, Brandes fought against what he saw as the hypocrisy of prudish sexuality, which caused a rift with Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. Between
4307-440: The story of a poor Jutlander, Jens. Jens moves to Copenhagen and battles with the conservative Christianity that was instilled in him by his grandfather. In time Jens returns home with a girlfriend in tow, but rather than a glorious homecoming, he receives instead the feelings of provincialism and negativity towards the freedoms of the big city. In time he inherits his fathers farm, marries his hometown sweetheart, but never gives into
4380-458: The support of Gyldendal, he spent countless hours, weeks, and months perusing archives, throughout the country. The work, Steen Steensen Blichers Livs-Tragedie i Breve og Aktstykker (Steen Steensen Blicher's Life Tragedy in Letters and Documents, 1903-1904) was released in subscription style with a total of 36 volumes. The piece was not financially successful; however, in time it came known to be
4453-454: The traditional peasant culture. Some critics regarded the piece as naive, it is Jeppe's first attempt at melding cultural and political issues into one. Aakjær tried to get the publishing firm of Gyldendal to partner with him, but was initially rebuffed, even though he was sought after by one of its editors, Peter Nansen . Instead he found a local bookstore owner, V. Oscar Søtofte , who published his first novel. Soon thereafter, he released
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#17327659350984526-477: The years of 1886 and 1888 Brandes was engaged in a relationship with the Swedish author Victoria Benedictsson , who wrote Penningar and Fru Marianne under the male pseudonym Ernst Ahlgren. Benedictsson committed suicide in a Copenhagen hotel room, and the relationship with Brandes has later been blamed as the cause for her death. In the late 1880s, Brandes turned to concentrating on "great personalities" as
4599-437: The young critic had offended many sensibilities by his ardent advocacy of modern ideas; he was seen as a Jew (which he did not consider himself to be), his convictions were Radical, he was suspected of being an atheist . The authorities refused to appoint him, but his fitness for the post was so obvious that the chair of Aesthetics remained vacant for years, since no one else dared to place himself in comparison with Brandes. In
4672-454: Was a Danish critic and scholar who greatly influenced Scandinavian and European literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century. He is seen as the theorist behind the " Modern Breakthrough " of Scandinavian culture. At the age of 30, Brandes formulated the principles of a new realism and naturalism , condemning hyper-aesthetic writing and also fantasy in literature. His literary goals were shared by some other authors, among them
4745-448: Was born on 10 September 1866 in Fly, Jutland, a small village near Skive . He came from a large family as he was one of eight, born to Jens Peder Jensen and Catherine Marie. His father was a farmer and Jeppe at a young age learned the family trade. This sowed the seeds of his poetic existence. His early jobs were that of a herdsboy, someone that tends cattle. His father was a hard worker and
4818-475: Was during this trip that he suffered a relapse of a chronic digestive illness. This prevented him from spending much more time touring and he would only get one more chance to travel. In 1913, he was able to tour Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and England, with his son. In this latter trip, it was again cut short, this time by a painful foot blister and he skipped his Scotland portion. In 1907, he turned
4891-512: Was highly acclaimed. It was, perhaps, history's most authoritative work on Shakespeare not principally intended for an English-speaking audience. He was afterwards engaged in writing a history of modern Scandinavian literature. In his critical work, which extended over a wider field than that of any other living writer, Brandes was aided by a singularly charming style, lucid and reasonable, enthusiastic but without extravagance, brilliant and colored without affectation. In 1900 he collected his works for
4964-534: Was not limited to his stories as he also demonstrated this in his poetry, for example in Bjergmands-snak (Mound-Dweller's Talk, 1949) a very long poem told buy the mound-dweller. While in Copenhagen for school, he became enamored with the big city and its cultural opportunities. Here he began to be influenced by other writers such as Brandes and Hørup , and also by politicians such as Jens Busk . In 1886, he left Copenhagen to spend time with his family on
5037-410: Was not successful in doing. In time he was in substantial debt to the publisher, in the amount of 8,000 kroner. One thing that he managed to do was keep the rights to all of his works, which was not normal in this era. The turn of the century saw Jeppe embarking on an endeavor that would take a few years to accomplish and most of his time. This project was the biography of Steen Steensen Blicher . With
5110-565: Was released around Christmas 1900, but saw lackluster sales which forced Jeppe to seek a new publisher. Gyldendal, who now had seen the strength of his writing had no problem forming a relationship with Jeppe, and they started by releasing the second of the short story collection, Fjandboer: Fortællingen fra Heden (Fjand Dwellers: Stories from Heden, 1901). Over time nearly all of his remaining books were to be published by Gyldendal, with one notable exception, Pigen fra Limfjorden: Roman (The Girl from Limfjord: Novel, 1921), which he published with
5183-591: Was thus able to reach a significant English language audience before World War I . It was Brandes who, in an 1888 letter, wrote to Nietzsche advising him to read the works of Søren Kierkegaard , with whom his thought had much in common. There is no evidence, however, that Nietzsche ever read any of Kierkegaard's works. The key idea of "aristocratic radicalism" went on to influence most of the later works of Brandes and resulted in voluminous biographies Wolfgang Goethe (1914–15), Francois de Voltaire (1916–17), Gaius Julius Cæsar 1918 and Michelangelo (1921). In
5256-483: Was translated as Jesus: A Myth in 1926. He was an atheist. Brandes stands as one of the most influential inspirations of Danish culture, an equal of Holberg, Grundtvig and Ansgar . Among his supporters, Brandes' work was seen as a liberator from repressive norms, authority and hypocrisy, and he served as an inspiration for many contemporary writers. On the other hand, conservative circles condemned him as an immoral, unpatriotic and subversive blasphemer; as he became
5329-500: Was tyrannical, a drinker, and foul-mouthed. This also influenced him, as in later years he would rail against the system in his writing, in particular in Paa Aftægt: En Fortælling (In Retirement: A Story, 1907), Vredens Børn: Et Tyendes Saga (Children of Wrath: A Servant's Saga, 1907), and Bondens Søn: Skildringer fra Fjends Herred (The Peasant's Son: Pictures from the Fjend District, 1899) Schooling, whereas
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