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Carl Ludvig Emil Aarestrup (4 December 1800 in
Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
– 21 July 1856 in
Odense Odense ( , , ) is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2025, the city proper had a population of 185,480 while Odense Municipality had a population of 210, ...
) was a Danish
physician A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the Medical education, study, Med ...
and
poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...
, who had just one single volume of
poetry Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...
published throughout his lifetime, yet this gave him a lasting place in Danish literature, due to the
originality Originality is the aspect of created or invented works that distinguish them from reproductions, clones, forgeries, or substantially derivative works. The modern idea of originality is according to some scholars tied to Romanticism, by a notion ...
of the poems, as well as their persistent exploration of
erotic Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, sculp ...
themes, somewhat uncommon to the day.


Life and career

Aarestrup was born in Store Kongensgade in
Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
, in a period designated by the
Napoleonic wars {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Napoleonic Wars , partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg , caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...
, which Denmark had been dragged into, and which left the country officially
bankrupt Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the de ...
. Nevertheless, this period is often characterized as the
Danish Golden Age The Danish Golden Age () covers a period of exceptional creative production in Denmark, especially during the first half of the 19th century.Kulturnet DanmarkGuide to the Danish Golden Age Although Copenhagen had suffered from fires, Battle of Co ...
. His father was a
customs officer A customs officer is a law enforcement official who enforces customs laws. Canada Canadian customs officers are members of the Canada Border Services Agency. It was created in 2003 and preceded by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (1999-20 ...
in the service of the absolute monarchy and also a bon vivant. Aarestrup had a younger brother, but when he was seven years old, their parents were separated, and tragically both died shortly after, leaving the two Aarestrup boys orphaned, but in the care of a local elderly spinster, Marie Møller, and the boys' grandfather, a dealer in tea and porcelain. As a poet, Aarestrup would later return to feelings of loss and loneliness, perhaps caused by these traumatic childhood experiences. In 1819 Aarestrup became a student, and continued to study
medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...
at the
University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen (, KU) is a public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in Scandinavia, after Uppsala University. ...
, graduating as a physician in 1827. That same year he married his 15 year old cousin Caroline Aagard and together they settled in Nysted on the Danish island
Lolland Lolland (; formerly spelled ''Laaland'', literally "low land") is the List of islands of Denmark#List of 100 largest Danish islands, fourth largest island of Denmark, with an area of . Located in the Kattegat, Belts and Sund area, it is part of Re ...
, where he would have his practice. It was later found out that he had actually fathered an illegitimate daughter with his landlords wife during his studies in Copenhagen, which naturally put strains on his relations with Caroline, but even so, he made provisions for this daughter also, besides from fathering no less than 12 children with his wife. The Aarestrup couple would live in Nysted from 1827 until 1838, when Aarestrup got hold of a more profitable district, better suited for his expenses to the growing family, though still not sufficient. In 1849 he finally succeeded in obtaining the much larger post of District Physician in
Funen Funen (, ), is the third-largest List of islands of Denmark, island of Denmark, after Zealand and North Jutlandic Island, Vendsyssel-Thy, with an area of . It is the List of islands by area, 165th-largest island in the world. It is located in th ...
, overseeing the other doctors. Again he and his family moved, for the last time, to
Odense Odense ( , , ) is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2025, the city proper had a population of 185,480 while Odense Municipality had a population of 210, ...
, where he spent the remainder of his life.


Works

Working as a doctor, he wrote poetry in his spare time. Only one book was published while he was alive, in 1838: "Digte" ("Poems"). It was generally ignored by critics as well as the public at the time of its release. Another was published after his death in 1863: "Efterladte Digte" ("Posthumous poems"). Among Danish lyricists, Aarestrup is considered one of the most genuine amorists. Especially in his ritornelles and short and emphasized verses he reaches mastery. As a verse technician he is influenced by the German poet
Friedrich Rückert Johann Michael Friedrich Rückert (16 May 1788 – 31 January 1866) was a German poet, translation, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Biography Johann Michael Friedrich Rückert was born 16 May 1788 in Schweinfurt and was the e ...
but finds his own form. Compared to most contemporary Danish love poets he is much more sensual, material and audacious though still respecting
decorum Decorum (from the Latin: "right, proper") was a principle of classical rhetoric, poetry, and theatrical theory concerning the fitness or otherwise of a style to a theatrical subject. The concept of ''decorum'' is also applied to prescribed lim ...
. His tune is teasing, ironic, witty and elegant but sometimes with a hidden fear of death and vanity. Among his most famous poems must be mentioned ''Paa Sneen'' (“On the Snow”), ''Angst'' (“Fear”), ''Til Nanna'' (“For Nanna”), ''Tidlig Skilsmisse'' (“Early Divorce”) and ''Var det Synd?'' (“Was It a Sin?”). Less known today are his few political poems that reveal his liberal sympathies.


Legacy

Although not recognized in his own time, he is now widely considered one of the most influential Danish poets and is still read in Denmark today. Normally his poetry is regarded as an important precursor of the great poet Sophus Claussen.


See also

* Physician writer


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aarestrup, Emil 1800 births 1856 deaths Danish male poets Danish medical writers Writers from Copenhagen 19th-century Danish poets 19th-century Danish physicians 19th-century Danish male writers