Danish literature from 1000 to 1900 is an account of Danish literature from the earliest period to the modern breakthrough of the late 19th century. Together with Danish literature in the 20th and the early 21st century this volume forms a complete history of Danish-language literature. At a time when information about individual authors and their works is only a quick click away and constantly updated, it can be an advantage to gather together this myriad of information and place it in coherent order – particularly for readers unable to read Danish. That is the basis for these two volumes on Danish literature. They provide a framework within which the richness of information about authors and their works can be appreciated as forming a rich, connected and connecting narrative.
Danish Literature from 1000 to 1900 is an inclusive and networked literary history that does not turn literary texts into mute museum pieces. The volume includes an analysis of the world famous Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus of the middle ages as well as a presentation of the renaissance masterpiece, Memoirs, by Leonora Christina Ulfeldt. The writings of the leading enlightenment author, Ludvig Holberg, are also introduced and the romanticist novelist Thomasine Gyllembourg, the fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen and the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard are key figures of the historic exposition. The volume is concluded by an introduction to the authors of the modern breakthrough. Central international contributions to literary studies and extensive discussion on periodization is included in Danish Literature from 1000 to 1900 so that readers may relate this periodization to the periodization of other national literatures. The volume also includes chronological overviews and notes on literary studies’ discussion of historiography and influential recent research and approaches to Danish literature.
