Henrik Arnold Thaulow Wergeland (June 17, 1808 in Kristiansand – July 12, 1845 in Christiania) (now known as Oslo) was a Norwegian writer, most celebrated for his poetry but also a prolific playwright, polemicist, historian, and linguist. He is often described as a leading pioneer in the development of a distinctly Norwegian literary heritage and indeed of modern Norwegian culture.
Though Wergeland lived only to 37 years old, his range of pursuit...
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Henrik Arnold Thaulow Wergeland (June 17, 1808 in Kristiansand – July 12, 1845 in Christiania) (now known as Oslo) was a Norwegian writer, most celebrated for his poetry but also a prolific playwright, polemicist, historian, and linguist. He is often described as a leading pioneer in the development of a distinctly Norwegian literary heritage and indeed of modern Norwegian culture.
Though Wergeland lived only to 37 years old, his range of pursuits covered literature, theology, history, contemporary politics, social issues, and science. His views were controversial in his time, and his literary style was variously denounced as subversive.
He was the oldest son of Nicolai Wergeland (1780–1848), who had been a member of the constituent assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814. The father was himself pastor of Eidsvold and the poet was thus brought up in the very holy of holies of Norwegian patriotism. Wergeland's younger sister was Camilla Collett. His father was the son of a bellringer from Sogn,...
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