Vilhelm Andersen | |
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| Born | Vilhelm Rasmus Andreas Andersen (1864-10-16)16 October 1864 Nordrup,Slagelse Municipality, Denmark |
| Died | 3 April 1953(1953-04-03) (aged 88) Hillerød, Denmark |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1888–1951 |
Vilhelm Rasmus Andreas Andersen (16 October 1864 – 3 April 1953) was a Danish author, literary historian and intellectual, who primarily focused on the study of Danish literature. He was one of the first to use the term "Golden Age of Culture" to refer to the 1800s, and his focus on bringing Danish literature to the public earned him great popularity. Andersen was instrumental in the development of the School of Radio, as a means of disseminating public education to prevent loss of cultural identity and treasures.
Vilhelm Rasmus Andreas Andersen was born on 16 October 1864 in Nordrup atRingsted in theSlagelse Municipality of Denmark, son of Frederik Vilhelm Andersen.[1] He graduated fromSorø Academy in 1882, having studied language and literature. He continued his studies at theUniversity of Copenhagen taking his examinations in 1888. He won the University's Gold Medal in Nordicphilology in 1891[2] and took his doctorate in 1896 with his thesisGuldhornene (TheGolden Horns).[3] He was appointed a professor of Danish literature in 1908 by Copenhagen University.[2]
Andersen began to write around 1893, with such pieces asDanske Studier (1893),Poul Møller, hans Liv og Skrifter (1894),Adam Oehlenschläger, I—III (1894–1900),Litteraturbilleder I—II (1903, 1907), among others. In these works he attempts to penetrate the poet's intentions both through linguistic analysis and by psychological study, particularly for the works ofPoul Møller andAdam Oehlenschläger. There are smaller scientific papers drawing on philology, the study of language development.[2] Andersen later returned to Møller (1904) and Oehlenschläger, (1917) and wrote smaller works onFrederik Paludan-Müller,Henrik Pontoppidan, andVilhelm Topsøe.[4]
In 1918 Andersen was appointed as a full professor in Nordic literature at the university, and held that post until 1930. His intellectual, historical masterpieces cover the various periods of Danish literature and attempt to bind the study of classical literature with the domestic growth in Danish and European intellectual life over the centuries.[4] He was the first to use the term "Golden Age of Culture", to refer to the 1800s[3] and his analysis of subjects in that period built up Danish literary history with such works as his three volumes onLudvig Holberg—Ludvig Holberg paa Tersløsegaard (1904),Holberg billedbog, billeder af Vilhelm Marstrand (1922) andMindeblad fra Holberg-Samfundets Opførelse af Philosophus udi egen Indbildning (1924)—; his two volumes onErasmus—Tider og typer af dansk aands historie (1907) andDet attende aarhundrede Gyldendalske (1909)—; his two volumes onGoethe—Det nittende aarhundredes sidste halvdel (1916) andTider og typer af Dansk aands historie. 1. raekke, Humanisme. 2. del, Goethe (1917)—; and the volumes onHorace—Horats. 1, Antiken (1939),Horats. 2, Fra Middelalder til Nytid (1940),Horats. 3, Det nittende aarhundrede: Strejftog (1942),Horats. 4, Norden. (1) (1948),Horats. 5, Norden. (2) (1949), andHorats. 6, Norden. (3) (1951).[4]
His teaching and writing had great influence on the foundations of Denmark’s national literature. In his later period, he wrote "Illustreret dansk litteraturhistorie" (Illustrated Danish Literary History) in four volumes with Carl S. Petersen[5] and a libretto forCarl Nielsen's operaMaskarade based on Holberg’s comedy.[3] Andersen traveled the country and was popular for his readings and lectures on literature which he presented onDanmarks Radio. He helped create the country's radio school.[3]
Andersen received many honors and awards throughout his life, including the University of Copenhagen Gold medal, the Tietgenkollegeit Medal and, in 1934, theHolberg Medal, becoming its first recipient.[6] He was an honorary member of the Danish Writers Society and an honorary citizen of Ringsted.[3]
He died on 3 April 1953 inHillerød. A collection of his articlesOm at skrive den danske ånds historie was published posthumously in 1986.[3]
