Frederik Ludvig Liebenberg
Encyclopedia
Frederik Ludvig Liebenberg (August 16, 1810 - 23 January 1894), was a Danish
literary historian, translator, critic and publisher. He is remembered especially for his editions of Ludvig Holberg
and Adam Oehlenschläger
.
, Denmark
. He was said to be a weak child who was spoiled by his mother with the result that he was a slow starter. It was not until he was eight years old that he started at Pogeskolen, his first school.
In 1823, he was sent Copenhagen’s most prestigious private school
, Borgerdydskolen (Civic Virtue School), whose headmaster, the legendary Michael Nielsen
(1776–1846), was said to be a cross between a tyrant
and a pedant
. Liebenberg would later recount in his memoirs that Adolph Peter Adler
and Søren Kierkegaard
were both in the same class from 1823 to 1827 where they established a close friendship. The school was not, however, suited to Liebenberg, who was not very industrious. He therefore left school and, after being tutored privately, entered university in 1828. He chose theology as his field of study, with Hebrew as a special subject. However, as these studies had little appeal for him, he soon abandoned them.
, he began to pursue literary interests. Within a few years, he took on a rather fruitful field of activity as a publisher of Danish classics. As he became a devoted literary expert, Liebenberg showed a distinct preference for the lighter side of life. He was quick to socialize and develop new friendships.
He was particularly attracted by the freshness and originality of youth. In particular, from 1846 to 1858, when he held the post of library assistant at the students' association, he constantly displayed a youthful approach to the association's business and festivities, even after his hair had begun to gray. In the summer, he could be seen rambling through Zealands's forests with one or other of his younger friends. Indeed, young students, including Jacob Voltelen, Georg Brandes
and Otto Borchsenius, were attracted by his kind disposition, his reliability and his unfailing love for literature.
'Old Liebenberg' became the centre of attraction for a host of young people who were always ready to celebrate special occasions with him. Celebrating his completion of 20 years at the university in 1848, Peter Heise
composed a cantata for which Jens Christian Hostrup wrote the words, and Kristian Mantzius made a speech. On the occasion of the Oehlenschläger
anniversary in 1879, Brandes delivered a cordial speech to his friend Liebenberg while Sophus Schandorph
sang a wonderful song he had written for him.
Liebenberg's warm affection for youth probably also explains the enthusiasm and interest with which he followed the latest developments in Danish politics and intellectual life, though perhaps he went further than was customary for a man of his age. On January 23, 1894, at the ripe old age of almost 84, he died in his bright cozy, bachelor home in Frederiksberg
.
. Fædrelandet, the Danish newspaper, commented on the excellent standard of his Danish prose. Later, from October 1855 to June 1857, he translated the short stories of Adelheid Reinbold (nom de plume Franz Berthold) and published them in installments in a paper entitled Avertissementstidende or "Advertising Times".
Of much greater importance are his editions of Danish authors. Since abandoning his theology studies, he immediately embarked on his task of publishing the neglected works of Adolph Wilhelm Schack von Staffeldt whose Samlede Digte or Collected Poems appeared in two volumes in 1843. This was followed in 1847 and 1851 by the two-volume work: Samlinger til Schack Staffeldts Levned or "Collections for Schack Staffeldt's Life". The great lyric poet was regarded almost as rediscovered and received a eulogy in Johan Ludvig Heiberg
's Intelligensblade which would have been more appropriate for Staffeldt during his lifetime.
From 1847 to 1854, with the support of Israel Levin, Liebenberg published Holberg
's plays in eight volumes. In 1845, he had already written a short introduction on Holberg entitled Betænkning over den Holbergske Orthografi or "Reflections on Holberg's Spelling".
From 1850 to 1855, with the preliminary assistance of Christian Thaarup, he published the Samtlige Skrifter or "Collected Works" of Johannes Ewald
in eight volumes, as well as an additional volume of Udvalgte Skrifter or "Selected Works" by Ewald. These works, however, led to unpleasant consequences for Lieberberg who was accused of coming close to infringing the rights of publisher E.L. Thaarup and his brother.
In 1855, Liebenberg published a shortened edition of Christian Hvid Bredahl's Dramatiske Scener I-VI or "Dramatic Scenes". In 1856, came Holberg's 'Peter Paars', and in 1857 Frantz Johannes Hansen's Poetiske Skrifter I-II or 'Poetic Works'. From 1857 to 1865, he completed his 32-volume work on Oehlenschläger's Poetiske Skrifter or "Poetic Works" in 32 volumes. Oehlenschläger was an author Liebenberg had known as a young man and had learned to love. He then published a revised version of Charlotte Biehl's free translation of 'Don Quixote' I-II (1865–1869) and new versions of Ludvig Holberg
's Heltehistorier or "Stories of Heroes" (1864–1865), Mindre poetiske Skrifter or "Less Poetic Writings" (1866) and Kirkehistorie or "Church History" (1867–1868).
In his later years, Liebenberg repeatedly updated his editions covering the works of Holberg, Schack Staffeldt and Oehlenschläger, always demonstrating great interest for them and sometimes adding new commentaries. In 1877, his published his edition of Emil Aarestrup
's Samlede Digte or "Collected Poems".
Similarly, there has been criticism of his Oehlenschläger editions as he initially insisted on keeping strictly to the poet's own presentation but failed to maintain the approach later, for example in the 1879 edition of Udvalgte Tragedier or "Selected Tragedies".
But there can be no criticism of Liebenberg's diligence and care, or of the order and accuracy behind all his works, aspects which were often forgotten by earlier publishers.
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, translator, critic and publisher. He is remembered especially for his editions of Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
and Adam 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...
.
Childhood and education
Liebenberg, son of Lutheran pastor and royal confessor, Michael Frederik Liebenberg (1767–1828), was born August 16, 1810, in CopenhagenCopenhagen
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...
, Denmark
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...
. He was said to be a weak child who was spoiled by his mother with the result that he was a slow starter. It was not until he was eight years old that he started at Pogeskolen, his first school.
In 1823, he was sent Copenhagen’s most prestigious private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Borgerdydskolen (Civic Virtue School), whose headmaster, the legendary Michael Nielsen
Michael Nielsen
Michael Aaron Nielsen is a writer living just outside Toronto, Canada. Before, he was an academic in physics. He worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, as the Richard Chace Tolman Prize Fellow at Caltech, was Foundation Professor of Quantum Information Science and a Federation Fellow at the...
(1776–1846), was said to be a cross between a tyrant
Tyrant
A tyrant was originally one who illegally seized and controlled a governmental power in a polis. Tyrants were a group of individuals who took over many Greek poleis during the uprising of the middle classes in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, ousting the aristocratic governments.Plato and...
and a pedant
Pedant
A pedant is a person who is excessively concerned with formalism and precision, or who makes a show of his or her learning.-Etymology:The English language word "pedant" comes from the French pédant or its older mid-15th Century Italian source pedante, "teacher, schoolmaster"...
. Liebenberg would later recount in his memoirs that Adolph Peter Adler
Adolph Peter Adler
Adolph Peter Adler , was a Danish theologian, writer and a pastor in Hasle and Rutsker, on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. -Early life:...
and Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish Christian philosopher, theologian and religious author. He was a critic of idealist intellectuals and philosophers of his time, such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling and Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel...
were both in the same class from 1823 to 1827 where they established a close friendship. The school was not, however, suited to Liebenberg, who was not very industrious. He therefore left school and, after being tutored privately, entered university in 1828. He chose theology as his field of study, with Hebrew as a special subject. However, as these studies had little appeal for him, he soon abandoned them.
Life
In 1840, breaking completely with theologyTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, he began to pursue literary interests. Within a few years, he took on a rather fruitful field of activity as a publisher of Danish classics. As he became a devoted literary expert, Liebenberg showed a distinct preference for the lighter side of life. He was quick to socialize and develop new friendships.
He was particularly attracted by the freshness and originality of youth. In particular, from 1846 to 1858, when he held the post of library assistant at the students' association, he constantly displayed a youthful approach to the association's business and festivities, even after his hair had begun to gray. In the summer, he could be seen rambling through Zealands's forests with one or other of his younger friends. Indeed, young students, including Jacob Voltelen, Georg Brandes
Georg Brandes
Georg Morris Cohen Brandes was a Danish critic and scholar who had great influence on Scandinavian and European literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century. He is seen as the theorist behind the "Modern Breakthrough" of Scandinavian culture...
and Otto Borchsenius, were attracted by his kind disposition, his reliability and his unfailing love for literature.
'Old Liebenberg' became the centre of attraction for a host of young people who were always ready to celebrate special occasions with him. Celebrating his completion of 20 years at the university in 1848, Peter Heise
Peter Arnold Heise
Peter Heise was a Danish composer, best known for the opera Drot og Marsk ....
composed a cantata for which Jens Christian Hostrup wrote the words, and Kristian Mantzius made a speech. On the occasion of the 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...
anniversary in 1879, Brandes delivered a cordial speech to his friend Liebenberg while Sophus Schandorph
Sophus Christian Frederik Schandorph
Sophus Christian Frederik Schandorph , known simply as Sophus Schandorph, , Danish poet and novelist, was born at Ringsted in Zealand. He was one of the men of "the Modern Break-through"....
sang a wonderful song he had written for him.
Liebenberg's warm affection for youth probably also explains the enthusiasm and interest with which he followed the latest developments in Danish politics and intellectual life, though perhaps he went further than was customary for a man of his age. On January 23, 1894, at the ripe old age of almost 84, he died in his bright cozy, bachelor home 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...
.
Literary activity
Liebenberg's literary activity is extensive. Already as a mature student, in 1839 he translated a collection of tales by Émile SouvestreÉmile Souvestre
Émile Souvestre was a French novelist who was a native of Morlaix, Finistère.He was the son of a civil engineer and was educated at the college of Pontivy, with the intention of following his father's career by entering the Polytechnic School...
. Fædrelandet, the Danish newspaper, commented on the excellent standard of his Danish prose. Later, from October 1855 to June 1857, he translated the short stories of Adelheid Reinbold (nom de plume Franz Berthold) and published them in installments in a paper entitled Avertissementstidende or "Advertising Times".
Of much greater importance are his editions of Danish authors. Since abandoning his theology studies, he immediately embarked on his task of publishing the neglected works of Adolph Wilhelm Schack von Staffeldt whose Samlede Digte or Collected Poems appeared in two volumes in 1843. This was followed in 1847 and 1851 by the two-volume work: Samlinger til Schack Staffeldts Levned or "Collections for Schack Staffeldt's Life". The great lyric poet was regarded almost as rediscovered and received a eulogy in Johan Ludvig Heiberg
Johan Ludvig Heiberg
Johan Ludvig Heiberg may refer to:* Johan Ludvig Heiberg , Danish poet and dramatist, husband of Johanne Luise Heiberg* Johan Ludvig Heiberg , Danish philologist and historian of mathematics...
's Intelligensblade which would have been more appropriate for Staffeldt during his lifetime.
From 1847 to 1854, with the support of Israel Levin, Liebenberg published Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
's plays in eight volumes. In 1845, he had already written a short introduction on Holberg entitled Betænkning over den Holbergske Orthografi or "Reflections on Holberg's Spelling".
From 1850 to 1855, with the preliminary assistance of Christian Thaarup, he published the Samtlige Skrifter or "Collected Works" of Johannes Ewald
Johannes Ewald
Johannes Ewald was a Danish national dramatist and poet.-Biography:Ewald, normally regarded as the most important Danish poet of the 2nd half of the 18th Century, led a short and troubled life, marked by alcoholism and poor health...
in eight volumes, as well as an additional volume of Udvalgte Skrifter or "Selected Works" by Ewald. These works, however, led to unpleasant consequences for Lieberberg who was accused of coming close to infringing the rights of publisher E.L. Thaarup and his brother.
In 1855, Liebenberg published a shortened edition of Christian Hvid Bredahl's Dramatiske Scener I-VI or "Dramatic Scenes". In 1856, came Holberg's 'Peter Paars', and in 1857 Frantz Johannes Hansen's Poetiske Skrifter I-II or 'Poetic Works'. From 1857 to 1865, he completed his 32-volume work on Oehlenschläger's Poetiske Skrifter or "Poetic Works" in 32 volumes. Oehlenschläger was an author Liebenberg had known as a young man and had learned to love. He then published a revised version of Charlotte Biehl's free translation of 'Don Quixote' I-II (1865–1869) and new versions of Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
's Heltehistorier or "Stories of Heroes" (1864–1865), Mindre poetiske Skrifter or "Less Poetic Writings" (1866) and Kirkehistorie or "Church History" (1867–1868).
In his later years, Liebenberg repeatedly updated his editions covering the works of Holberg, Schack Staffeldt and Oehlenschläger, always demonstrating great interest for them and sometimes adding new commentaries. In 1877, his published his edition of Emil Aarestrup
Emil Aarestrup
Carl Ludwig Emil Aarestrup was a Danish erotic poet.-Life:Aarestrup was born in Copenhagen, and died in Odense. He graduated in 1827 majoring in medicine. That same year, he married Caroline Aagard and they settled down in Nysted, on the Danish island of Lolland where he lived for most of his life...
's Samlede Digte or "Collected Poems".
Criticism
Until recently, Liebenberg's works were considered exemplary. His Holberg editions have, however, now been strongly criticized. In particular, he is said to have taken an over-pedantic view of Holdberg's spelling, making it look more dated than Holberg would have wished. Some have maintained that it would have been more useful if Liebenberg had discussed the actual texts of Holberg's plays, including the great master's own carelessness in his writings which led him to introduce corrections of his own.Similarly, there has been criticism of his Oehlenschläger editions as he initially insisted on keeping strictly to the poet's own presentation but failed to maintain the approach later, for example in the 1879 edition of Udvalgte Tragedier or "Selected Tragedies".
But there can be no criticism of Liebenberg's diligence and care, or of the order and accuracy behind all his works, aspects which were often forgotten by earlier publishers.