Ingemann, BERNHARD SEVERIN,

Ingemann, BERNHARD SEVERIN, Danish poet and novelist, was born, May 28, 1789, at Thorckildstrup, in Falster. He first wrote lyrics (Proene, &c.), and then collections of Fairy-tales and Stories. But his best works were a series of historical novels, in which he took Walter Scott for his model—Valdemar Seier (1826), Erik Menved’s Childhood (1828), King Erik (1833), and Prince Otto of Denmark (1835). The poems Valdemar the Great and his Men (1824), Queen Margaret (1836), and Holger Danske (1837), which are based, like his novels, on incidents of Danish national history and tradition, rank among Ingemann’s most successful efforts. Besides being prolific he was also versatile, and essayed his hand in nearly all branches of pure literature, not the least estimable of his productions being Psalms (1825). From 1822 he taught Danish language and literature in the Royal Academy of Sorö, near Copenhagen. His collective works were published in 39 vols. (1843–64). He died 24th February 1862.