Knud Lyne Rahbek
Encyclopedia
Knud Lyne Rahbek was a Danish
literary historian, critic, writer, poet & magazine editor.
Knud Lyne Rahbek was son of the clergyman Jacob Rahbek, but he had always wanted to become an actor. In his youth he tried out as an actor at the Royal Danish Theatre
, but because of his looks he was discarded.
Instead he turned to the role of a writer. He started out as a playwright, writing a series of semi-successful plays most notably the play The young Darcy ("Den unge Darcy" 1780) was a success. But the work that ensured his breakthrough was the work on the theory of acting Letters from an old actor to his son ("Breve fra en gammel Skuespiller til hans søn" 1782) which especially asserts Denis Diderot
's love of a mixture of moralizing and naturalism in plays.
Rahbek quickly became one of the most prominent speakers on cultural matters, and with his work as publisher and editor the journals Minerva and The Danish Spectator ("Den danske Tilskuer") he was one of the main voices of the Danish moderate Enlightenment
.
Together with librarian and scholar Rasmus Nyerup he founded the Danish study of literary history with the work Contributions to a review of the art of poetry in Denmark ("Bidrag til en oversigt over den danske Digtekonst" (in 5 volumes 1800-1828).
As a prominent member of the most distinguished of the Danish clubs, most notably Drejers Club, he wrote a number of drinking songs. He also was one of the only Danish writers of novels and short stories at the turn of 19th century.
Together with his wife Kamma Rahbek
he held his own "court" at his home in the 17th century inn turned private property called "Bakkehuset
" in Frederiksberg
a suburb of Copenhagen
. Almost all of the Danish writers and prominent persons visited Bakkehuset on a regular basis. Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger
, Hans Christian Andersen
, Bernhard Severin Ingemann
, Steen Steensen Blicher
all were personal friends of the Rahbeks.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
literary historian, critic, writer, poet & magazine editor.
Knud Lyne Rahbek was son of the clergyman Jacob Rahbek, but he had always wanted to become an actor. In his youth he tried out as an actor at the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
, but because of his looks he was discarded.
Instead he turned to the role of a writer. He started out as a playwright, writing a series of semi-successful plays most notably the play The young Darcy ("Den unge Darcy" 1780) was a success. But the work that ensured his breakthrough was the work on the theory of acting Letters from an old actor to his son ("Breve fra en gammel Skuespiller til hans søn" 1782) which especially asserts Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer. He was a prominent person during the Enlightenment and is best known for serving as co-founder and chief editor of and contributor to the Encyclopédie....
's love of a mixture of moralizing and naturalism in plays.
Rahbek quickly became one of the most prominent speakers on cultural matters, and with his work as publisher and editor the journals Minerva and The Danish Spectator ("Den danske Tilskuer") he was one of the main voices of the Danish moderate Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
.
Together with librarian and scholar Rasmus Nyerup he founded the Danish study of literary history with the work Contributions to a review of the art of poetry in Denmark ("Bidrag til en oversigt over den danske Digtekonst" (in 5 volumes 1800-1828).
As a prominent member of the most distinguished of the Danish clubs, most notably Drejers Club, he wrote a number of drinking songs. He also was one of the only Danish writers of novels and short stories at the turn of 19th century.
Together with his wife Kamma Rahbek
Kamma Rahbek
Kamma Rahbek , née Heger , was a Danish artist, salonist and lady of letters....
he held his own "court" at his home in the 17th century inn turned private property called "Bakkehuset
Bakkehuset
Bakkehuset is a historic house museum in the Frederiksberg district of Copenhagen, Denmark. Dating from the 1520s, it is has served a number of functions over the years, including as a farmhouse, inn, private home, psychiatric hospital and orphanage...
" in Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg Kommune is a municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It surrounded by the city of Copenhagen. The municipality, co-extensive with its seat, covers an area of and has a total population of 98,782 making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most...
a suburb of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. Almost all of the Danish writers and prominent persons visited Bakkehuset on a regular basis. Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger
Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger
Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger was a Danish poet and playwright. He introduced romanticism into Danish literature.-Biography:He was born in Vesterbro, then a suburb of Copenhagen, on 14 November 1779...
, Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, Bernhard Severin Ingemann
Bernhard Severin Ingemann
Bernhard Severin Ingemann was a Danish novelist and poet.Ingemann was born in Thorkildstrup, on the island of Falster, Denmark. The son of a vicar, he was left fatherless in his youth. While a student at the University of Copenhagen he published his first collection of poems Bernhard Severin...
, Steen Steensen Blicher
Steen Steensen Blicher
Steen Steensen Blicher was an author and poet born in Vium near Viborg, Denmark.- Biography :Blicher was the son of a literarily inclined Jutlandic parson whose family was distantly related to Martin Luther....
all were personal friends of the Rahbeks.
Sources
- Conrad, Flemming, Rahbek og Nyerup, Studier fra Sprog- og Oldtidsforskning, Museum Tusculanum, 1979.
- Erslew, Almindeligt Forfatter-Lexicon for Kongeriget Danmark med tilhørende Bilande, København, 1847, vol. 2, s. 603-619.
- Anne E. Jensen, Rahbek og de danske Digtere, in:Frederiksberg gennem Tiderne, VII, 1960.
- Troels-Lund, Bakkehus og Solbjerg, volume 1, Gyldendal, 1971.