Gustaf Munch-Petersen (February 18, 1912 – April 2, 1938) was a Danish writer and painter. He wrote surreal prose poems, considered groundbreaking in his time, which have inspired later writers.

Biography

Gustaf Munch-Petersen grew up in a rich and respectable home; he was one of the four sons of

Valfrid Palmgren Alfhild ''Valfrid'' Matilda Palmgren, as married Palmgren Munch-Petersen (3 June 1877 – 6 December 1967), was a Swedish educator, linguist, and politician. She reformed the Swedish library policy and introduced the public library system in Swede ...

(1877–1967), a Swedish-born associate professor in Swedish at

Copenhagen University The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public research university in Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in Scandinavia after Uppsala Unive ...

and (1873–1939), professor in Engineering Research at the Polytechnic School. He graduated from gymnasium in 1930 and thereafter started several academic courses, but none could capture his interest for more than a short period of time. Instead he focused on art while being supported financially by his parents. He made his debut as a writer with "" (1932). His art was displayed at different exhibitions in 1932. In 1935 he moved to the Danish island of Bornholm, where he married Elisabeth "Lisbeth" Accheleie Bruhn (Lisbeth Hjort) (1908–1997). In 1937 he joined the International Brigades and fought in the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...

, where he died the next year.

References

Other sources

* Svend Dahl; Poul Engelstoft: ''Dansk skønlitterært forfatterleksikon 1900–1950'', vol. 2, (Copenhagen: Grønholt Pedersen, 1959-64) {{DEFAULTSORT:Munch-Petersen, Gustaf Danish male writers 20th-century Danish painters 1912 births 1938 deaths International Brigades personnel Military personnel killed in the Spanish Civil War