Bernhard Severin Ingemann was a Danish novelist and poet.
Biography
Ingemann was born in Torkilstrup, on the island of Falster, Denmark. The son of a vicar, he was left fatherless in his youth. While a student at the University of Copenhagen he published his first collection of poems, which show great influence of German romanticism. Critics describe their sickly sentimentality as reflecting the unhealthy condition of the poet's body and mind at this time. These works were followed by a long allegorical poem, De sorte Riddere, which closed his first period. Then followed six plays, of which the best is considered to be Reinald Underbarnet, and the most popular, Blanca,. In 1817 he published his first prose work, De Underjordiske, et bornholmsk Eventyr, which was followed in 1820 by Eventyr og Fortællinger, many of them imitations of Hoffmann. During 1818–19 he traveled on the Continent. in Sorø In 1822 was appointed instructor of the Danish Language and Literature at the Academy of Sorø. During his next period, inspired by Scott's Waverley novels, Ingemann produced his series of historical romances, by virtue of which he disputes with H. C. Andersen the title of the children's writer of Denmark. Their subjects are all taken from Danish history. The first, and perhaps the best, is Valdemar Sejr, which was followed by Erik Menveds Barndom ; Kong Erik og de Fredløse ; and Prins Otto af Danmark og Hans Samtid. While his historical romances show a lack of accuracy, their strong nationality gives them a special interest to the student of Danish culture. In reality they mean the introduction of the historical novel in Danish literature. A later artistic novel Landsbybørnene from 1852 is now almost forgotten. Known as the fourth great Danish hymn writer, Ingemann is considered less rooted in Biblical dogma and more borne up by a general spiritual and religious interest. A simple naivete runs through them. Especially popular were his Morgen og Aftensange, a collection of religious poems of great beauty and spirituality written during 1837–39. They were set to music by the composerWeyse. Many of them have been classics in Danish schools. Also his Christmas hymns are popular. He also wrote poems of historic and mythological content in the heroic saga Holger Danske. He was a personal friend of Grundtvig who was in some degrees his mentor and with whom he shared a deep interest of Danish medieval history. Often they have been regarded almost mental twins in spite of clear differences. Also Blicher and H. C. Andersen must be mentioned among his friends. Ingemann was in his elder years much respected and after the death of Oehlenschläger he was regarded the unofficial poet-king of Denmark. Critics cite Ingemann's grace and delicacy, rather than strength, of style, both in prose and poetry. He died in Sorø. Ingemann was married to Lucie Marie Mandix, a painter, whose works still hang in Danish churches.
