Transcriber's Note:
1. Page scan source:
http://books.google.com/books?id=A-M8AAAAYAAJ&dq
The author has given no preface to this romance; and the translatorwould be contented to follow his example, had the author alreadyenjoyed an English celebrity, or could the name of his translator ofitself suffice to recommend his work to the English public.
But the names of Danish writers are comparatively little known inEngland, and the literature and language of Denmark have not herereceived that degree of attention which they so justly merit. While thenames of the poets and novelists of France and Germany are familiar toa numerous section of the reading public, they have yet, in a greatmeasure, to become acquainted with the names of Ingemann, Andersen,Baggesen, Heiberg, Oehlenschlaeger, and many other Danes of recenttimes, whose productions as poets, novel's, and dramatists, would dohonour to the literature of any country. It is only in comparativelyrecent times, however, that Denmark has produced a class of writers ofany considerable note in the higher walks of literature. During thelast century, with the exception of Holberg's "Niels Klim" and "PederPaars," there are scarcely any other works, unless of a scientific andhistorical character, that have acquired anything of a Europeancelebrity. To investigate fully the causes of this dearth of elegantwriters would require more than the limits of a preface. They may besought for partly in the depression of the national spirit, consequentupon the decay of the kingdom of Denmark, which, from the proudposition it occupied during the middle ages, as one of the first powersof Europe, has gradually dwindled to a third-rate monarchy; and,partly, in the undue preference awarded by its own scholars and men ofletters to the productions of French, German, and English writers. But,whatever the causes, within the last thirty years there has been anevident desire on the part of the Danes to possess a literature oftheir own, and to take their stand among the literati of Europe inevery department of the belles-lettres. To accomplish this, it wasnecessary to arouse the dormant spirit of the people--to remind them oftheir former greatness--to revive the memories of the ancient heroes ofDenmark--to reproduce their old chronicles, sagas, and ballads--and, bydwelling on the glories of the past, to kindle bright hopes of thefuture.