The 20th century

Novels and poetry before World War II

Several women contributed to literature at the turn of the century: Gyrithe Lemche, who wrote a novel cycle, Edwardsgave (1900–12); Agnes Henningsen, who was often concerned with experiences of the emancipated woman; and Karin Michaëlis, a fine psychologist, best known for her novel Den farlige alder (1910; The Dangerous Age).

The two greatest early 20th-century Danish novelists were Martin Andersen Nexø and Johannes V. Jensen. Nexø’s works describe the lives of poor people; Pelle erobreren (4 vol., 1906–10; Pelle the Conqueror; film 1987) and Ditte Menneskebarn (5 vol., 1917–21; Eng. trans. in 3 vol., Ditte: Girl Alive!, Daughter of Man, and Towards the Stars) are great epics of proletarian life, and his reminiscences are among the finest in the language. Jensen, who was also a great and original lyric poet and prolific essayist, wrote Den lange rejse (6 vol., 1908–22; The Long Journey), an ambitious mythical epic of humankind from the baboon stage to the discovery of America. He was also noted for Himmerlandshistorier (1904, revised 1910; “Tales from Himmerland”), based on his childhood memories of North Jutland; Kongens fald (1900–01; The Fall of the King); and nine volumes of Myter (1907–44; “Myths”). Other novelists of this period include Jakob Knudsen, whose works address Christian and moral problems; Harald Kidde, an introspective and melancholy writer; and Knud Hjortø, a keen writer of psychological novels and satirical short stories.

Regional literature of the early 1900s, with which Jensen was primarily associated because of his Himmerlandshistorier, was produced chiefly by Jutland writers. Prominent among them were three novelists and poets: Jeppe Aakjær, Thøger Larsen, and Johan Skjoldborg. Also, Marie Bregendahl and Harry Søiberg drew upon Jutland settings for their novels.

Significant poets of the post-World War I generation were Tom Kristensen, Otto Gelsted, Emil Bønnelycke, Kai Friis Møller, and Per Lange. Among novelists, Jacob Paludan wrote widely praised fiction—Fugle omkring fyret (1925; Birds Around the Light) and Jørgen Stein (1932–33)—as also did Hans Kirk, whose Fiskerne (1928; The Fishermen) represents social realism at its best. Harald Herdal, a disciple of Nexø, exposed society’s hypocrisy in his proletarian novels. Jørgen Nielsen’s themes were suppressed hatred, sin, and fear among Jutland peasants. Hans Christian Branner, an important writer of novels, plays, and short stories, spoke of loneliness and the danger of power. Another writer of these three genres was Knud Sønderby, who had a brilliant style and deep understanding. Nis Petersen, a poet and novelist, was famous for Sandalmagernes gade (1931; The Street of the Sandalmakers) and Spildt maelk (1934; Spilt Milk).

Isak Dinesen (Karen Christence Dinesen, Baroness Blixen-Finecke), an aristocratic writer of subtle irony, wrote both in Danish and in English; her first notable work, a collection of short stories featuring a strong fairy-tale-like quality, was published first in English as Seven Gothic Tales (1934) and subsequently translated by the author into Danish as Syv fantastiske Fortællinger. Dinesen’s other major works include her novelistic memoir Den afrikanske farm (1937; Out of Africa) and two more collections of finely crafted stories, Vinter-Eventyr (1942; Winter’s Tales) and Sidste fortællinger (1957; Last Tales). Other distinguished novelists of the time were Hans Scherfig, a great humorist and social satirist, and Martin Alfred Hansen, a psychological novelist whose best-known novel is Løgneren (1950; The Liar).

Danish playwrights of the post-World War I period, such as Sven Clausen and Svend Borberg, were influenced by German Expressionism, Symbolism, the Italian playwright Luigi Pirandello, and the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud. Kaj Munk revived the heroic drama of William Shakespeare and Friedrich von Schiller; En idealist (1928; Herod the King) and Ordet (1932; The Word) are his best plays. The work of Kjeld Abell marked a split from naturalist drama, and a radical perspective underlay his witty dialogue. His most important plays were Melodien, der blev vaek (1935; The Melody That Got Lost), Anna Sophie Hedvig (1939), Dage på en sky (1947; Days on a Cloud), and Skriget (1961; “The Scream”). C.E. Soya was an important playwright of the period and a novelist and fine short-story writer; although uneven in quality, some of his daring experiments with the theatre were very successful.