The lecture series launched in Copenhagen in 1871 titled Main Currents in the Literature of the Nineteenth Century defined the trajectory of Scandinavian intellectual life. Georg Brandes, a Danish scholar and critic, challenged the existing aesthetic establishment, advocating for realism and naturalism while rejecting the fantasy and hyper-aesthetic literary styles prevalent in the late 19th century.
Academic Foundations and Early Work
Born in 1842 in Copenhagen, Brandes attended the University of Copenhagen in 1859, initially focusing on jurisprudence before transitioning to philosophy and aesthetics. His academic potential was recognized early, as he secured a university gold medal in 1862 for his essay on the concept of nemesis in ancient thought. Influenced by the writings of J.L. Heiberg and Søren Kierkegaard, he began to refine his critical methodology, eventually publishing Aesthetic Studies in 1868 and translating John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women.
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Brandes became a docent at the University of Copenhagen, where his lectures garnered significant attention for their modern, radical perspective. Although his academic reputation was undeniable, his vocal atheism and radical political convictions led authorities to deny him a permanent professorship. Despite this institutional opposition, he spearheaded the Modern Breakthrough, a movement that sought to align Scandinavian literature with the broader realities of European social and political progress. He collaborated with figures such as Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson to promote realism over traditional romanticism.
International Influence and Authorship
Seeking a broader intellectual arena, Brandes spent time living in Berlin and Vienna, which expanded his cultural reach. Throughout his career, he authored numerous monographs on influential thinkers and poets, including Ludvig Holberg, Benjamin Disraeli, and Ferdinand Lassalle. His comprehensive 1897-1898 study of William Shakespeare remains a notable entry in his body of work. In 1884, alongside his brother Edvard Brandes and Viggo Hørup, he helped launch the newspaper Politiken, which became a vital organ for cultural and political discourse in Denmark.
Fast facts
- Born: 1842, Copenhagen
- Died: 1927, Copenhagen
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Denmark
- Key Movement: Modern Breakthrough
- Notable Publication: Main Currents in the Literature of the Nineteenth Century
- Education: University of Copenhagen
- Religion: Atheism
Questions readers ask
What was the Modern Breakthrough?
It was a cultural movement initiated by Brandes that advocated for realism, naturalism, and social engagement in literature while rejecting fantasy and pseudo-classicism.
Why was Brandes denied a professorship?
University authorities were deterred by his radical political views, his perceived atheism, and the controversies generated by his criticism of established norms.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Copenhagen