Jacobsen, Jens Peter

Jacobsen, Jens Peter (yĕns pā`tər yä`kôpsən), 1847–85, Danish writer. His historical romance Marie Grubbe (1876, tr. 1917) deals with spiritual degeneration in 17th-century Denmark. Jacobsen's other works include Nels Lyhne (1880, tr. 1919), a semiautobiographical work about a dreamer unable to cope with the realities of his life, several novellas, and a volume of poems. His nation's first naturalist novelist, Jacobsen created a curt prose that had great influence on naturalistic style, both in Denmark and abroad. He translated Darwin's Origin of Species and Descent of Man into Danish.

Bibliography

See biography by N. L. Jensen (1980).

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Jacobsen, Jens Peter 

Born Apr. 7, 1847, in Thisted; died there Apr. 30, 1885. Danish writer.

Jacobsen graduated from the University of Copenhagen in 1867. A biologist by education, he was one of the first Scandinavian popularizers of Darwinism. He influenced the development of psychological and impressionist literature in Western Europe.

Jacobsen combined an analytical approach to the portrayal of the outer world and man’s inner life with emotionalism, colorful descriptions, and the use of historical detail. The historical novel Marie Crubbe (1876; Russian translations, 1893 and 1962) contains vivid scenes from the life of Denmark and Norway in the 17th century. The novel Nils Lyhne (1880; Russian translations, 1911 and 1976) deals with an intellectual’s renunciation of religion; it depicts with psychological precision the hero’s cultivation of fortitude, which ends in his self-mastery. Jacobsen was also the author of short stories and poems.

WORKS

Samlede verker, vols. 1–5. Copenhagen, 1924–29.
In Russian translation:
Novelty. Moscow, 1909.

REFERENCES

Brandes, G. “I. P. Iakobsen.” Sobr. soch., vol. 3. St. Petersburg [1896].
Admoni, V. G. “Roman I. P. Iakobsena Nil’s Liune.” In Skandinavskii sbornik, vol. 14. Tallinn, 1969.
Knudsen, A. J. P. Iakobsen i hans digtning. Copenhagen, 1950.
Nielsen, F. J. P. Jacobsen. Copenhagen, 1953.
Nielsen, F. J. P. Jakobsen: En literxr undersøgelse. [No place] 1968.
Omkring “Niels Lyhne.” Edited by N. Barfoed. Copenhagen, 1970.

V. G. ADMONI