Vilhelm Andersen

Vilhelm Rasmus Andreas Andersen (16 October 1864 – 3 April 1953) was a Danish author, literary historian and intellectual, who primarily focused on the study of Danish literature. He was one of the first to use the term " Golden Age of Culture" to refer to the 1800s, and his focus on bringing Danish literature to the public earned him great popularity. Andersen was instrumental in the development of the School of Radio, as a means of disseminating public education to prevent loss of cultural identity and treasures.

Biography

Vilhelm Rasmus Andreas Andersen was born on 16 October 1864 in Nordrup at Ringsted in the Slagelse Municipality of Denmark, son of Frederik Vilhelm Andersen. He graduated from Sorø Academy in 1882, having studied language and literature. He continued his studies at the University of Copenhagen taking his examinations in 1888. He won the University's Gold Medal in Nordic philology in 1891 and took his doctorate in 1896 with his thesis ''Guldhornene'' (The Golden Horns). He was appointed a professor of Danish literature in 1908 by Copenhagen University.

Andersen began to write around 1893, with such pieces as ' (1893), ' (1894), ''Adam Oehlenschläger, I—III'' (1894–1900), ' (1903, 1907), among others. In these works he attempts to penetrate the poet's intentions both through linguistic analysis and by psychological study, particularly for the works of Poul Møller and Adam Oehlenschläger. There are smaller scientific papers drawing on philology, the study of language development. Andersen later returned to Møller (1904) and Oehlenschläger, (1917) and wrote smaller works on Frederik Paludan-Müller, Henrik Pontoppidan, and Vilhelm Topsøe.

In 1918 Andersen was appointed as a full professor in Nordic literature at the university, and held that post until 1930. His intellectual, historical masterpieces cover the various periods of Danish literature and attempt to bind the study of classical literature with the domestic growth in Danish and European intellectual life over the centuries. He was the first to use the term "Golden Age of Culture", to refer to the 1800s and his analysis of subjects in that period built up Danish literary history with such works as his three volumes on Ludvig Holberg—' (1904), ' (1922) and ' (1924)—; his two volumes on Erasmus—' (1907) and ' (1909)—; his two volumes on Goethe—' (1916) and ' (1917)—; and the volumes on Horace—' (1939), ' (1940), ' (1942), ' (1948), ' (1949), and ' (1951).

His teaching and writing had great influence on the foundations of Denmark’s national literature. In his later period, he wrote "" (Illustrated Danish Literary History) in four volumes with Carl S. Petersen and a libretto for Carl Nielsen's opera ''Maskarade'' based on Holberg’s comedy. Andersen traveled the country and was popular for his readings and lectures on literature which he presented on Danmarks Radio. He helped create the country's radio school.

Andersen received many honors and awards throughout his life, including the University of Copenhagen Gold medal, the Tietgenkollegeit Medal and, in 1934, the Holberg Medal, becoming its first recipient. He was an honorary member of the Danish Writers Society and an honorary citizen of Ringsted.

He died on 3 April 1953 in Hillerød

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