The sun., 1883-12-30

American readers arc much indebted to
Mr.. RAsMUs u. ASDEESoN for IL translation OF
IIOENs History 0f scandinavian Lifrrat"re Is. {.
GtiGgS Co... This is al exhaustive survey Of
the literary activity of the Scandinavian North
from tho most ancient times to the present.
and tho arrangement Of tlio book is admirably
calculated to exhibit the historical procoss Of
development. About quarter Of the space is
allotted to q succinct account OF the old Norso
writings. and to their nearest representative.
relatively little modified by the admi>ture of
foreign elements or by the lapse Of time
In tho literature Of modern Iceland.
Tho evolution OF distinct literary out
growth in Denmark and Norway Is
next examined tho two countries having
shared in ono and the same movement up to
their political separation in the early part oil
this century The course OF modern Danish
literature since $500. and tho effort to create an
independent literature in Norway since 1914
are reviewed in supplemental chapters. The
last hundred pages Of the work arc devoted to
Sweden from the beginnings OF tho national
literature in tho middle ages down to and in
Guiding contemporary writer's. With the as
sstarcc OF this history We can discern the re-
| lations Of the literary movements In Denmark
and Sweden to the original impulse communi-
cntod by old Morse poetry and iogend, on the
one hand. and. on tho other. to continental.
| and. especially. to German literature.
An inspection Of the wide AMI interesting
! field traverscd in this volume can hardly fail
| to kinde in the reader q strong desiro to
acquire at first hand II possible. or. at all
| events. through transla,ions. a moro extensive
acquaintance with Scandinavian literature
than Is mt present possessed by most culi-
waited persons in this country. 1t H. indeed
surprising how little knowledge with respect
ia hiu i,,,a
| i, disclosed by persons who hayo given much
| timu to tine study of the literatures OF central
and southern Europe Almost overy college
graduate. for instance. of thirty years ago in
England and the United States was moro oi
loss familiar with MahvIg's Greek am
! Latin graminars yet how many Of then
wern aware that tho author WAS /
Danef For the mnss Of English readers
| indeed Danish literature was represented
| " the fairy tales Of Hans Christian Anderson
the literature of modern Norway by tho poas
ant stories of BI6rnson this dramas and yri,
poems being evcr!ookodl. and tho rich an,
varied authorship OF Sweden by the name Q
Iinnmus In science that OF Swedenbor. il
theosophy. that Of Tcgner IN poetry, and b,
tho names Of Frcdrika Bremen and Emili,
Carlen in prose iiction. As 10 old Norso poetr
and romance, most rel lers have conlenJe,
themselves with such gim pscs as wore attain
ab!e from the selection ol Morse tales made b
Sir j. Dasent; for. although long before tn
publication OF his epic poem Sigurd the Vol
sung" Mr. william Morris had translated. Il
connection with Mr.. i. Magnussoh. the stor
~ the Vosungs and Sieblunes from III
Elder Edda this prose English versiop OF tn
great Northern legend met with n very Unite
domaEd. This 10 probably n fair admeasure
ment of tho range OF Tho acquaintance with Sean
dinavinn literature possessed by Englishine
or Americans with considerable pretansions
culture, and who Would blush to exhibit a
equally imperfect apprehension Of the nterar
treasures embodied In the lang uygcs of Franc