The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-07
FAMOUS AUTHOR
: DRAWS EARLY LIFE
dEORG BRANDEs, A JEW, IS DEN.
MARKS BRIGHTEST WRITER.
But Never Received the Recognition al
Home That Would Have Been His
Had He Lived in Another Country
Results of Norwegian Elections at
Hand. as --.-

Georg Brandes, the Danish literary
critic and author, is becoming fairly
well known in America and his fame
is likely to grow considerable, as much
interest is shown in his new work, en-
titled "reminiscences of My Child,
hood and Youth,' which is published
by a New York house. Brandes is with
out question the foremost literary !!ght
in Denmark, a keen critic, a brilliant
thinker and an undoubted genius: That
he has not attained the recognition IN
certain circles of Copenhagen is posi-
bly, a greater reflection or the circles
than on Brandes. At any rate, he is
not sought by the aristocracy us are
the literary lions in other countries.
Brandes was born in Copenhagen in
1912, and both Of his parents were
Jews. He was slight and thin as a
boy, but his physical weakness prompt
ed him to take severe gymnasium
training, which eventually made him
a good jumper and runner. fair wrest-
Ter and an expert fighter. Eeverthe-
less, he was unable to enter the army.
While not at all precCcious, he was
O. good student, was inclined to be ana
lytical and, even as Young boy. de-
termincd to know the why and where
for of everything. At IL he decided
to read all the books that Goethe sail
he read as a boy, for Goethe was his
idol.
Having no talent for the natural
sciences, and finding literary advance
ment far away, Young Brandcs chose
to study law, but altho he completed
the course, he never practiced. He
studied bellies lettres, philosophy and
esthetics, until compelled to earn some
money, when he became schcolteacher
for a time.
One of the most important events
in his life was a visit to Paris and
London at the age of % years. In
Paris he was well received by Taine.
His impressions of the noted people
he met are interesting, as is shown by
the following group:
Of Renan, whose acquaintance he
soon made: Ellis personality impressed
me very much, grand and free Of mind
as he was, without trace OF the unc-
tuousness that one occasionally meets in
his books, yet superior to the verge OF
paradox
Of John Stuart Mill he writes:
"To talk to him was a new eX-
perience The first characteristic
that struck me was that, where;
as the French writers were all
assertive, he listened attentively to
the first time in my life, a figure who
was the incarnation of the ideal had
drawn for myself of the great man.
This ideal has two sides: talent and
character; great capacities and infex.
ibility' Going to London he found
Gladstone and Disraei. representa-.
tlves OF two races and two opposed
views Ct life. Gladstone was in him
self tanGsc mer, clearer and more open
Disraeli spoke with a finer point anc
more elegantly, had larger oratorica
compass, more often made witty hit
and evoked more vigorous response ant
applause:
Undoubtedly the best work is done
in the chapters treating of the siege
of Paris and the events preceding the
downfall of Napoleon III. The chap
tiers on Italy are like the remainder o,
the book, vivacious and highly enter
tanning.