Niels Lyhne

As one of the most important authors of the Danish language, Jens Peter Jacobsen body of work is small, including just two novels, seven short stories, and a volume of poetry. Considered his masterpiece, 'Niels Lyhne' was first published in 1880 and was instantly heralded as a critical success. Jacobsen's novel follows the life of the titular character, a dreamy and romantic aspiring poet who struggles to make sense of a cruel and indifferent world. Torn between a childishly idealized vision of what life would be like and the more practical demands of surviving in the modern era, the idealistic Niels evolves from an innocent child into a disillusioned adult. His journey of discovery is one of conflict: from religious faith versus objective reason, of romanticism versus harsh realism, and ultimately loneliness in a godless world versus the desire for love and acceptance. As a foundational work of the Naturalist literary movement 'Niels Lyhne' greatly influenced the works of Henrik