Introduction

Lewis Holberg, the author of the Narrative of Niels Klim, was the most eminent writer among the Danes in the eighteenth century. His works show a surprising versatility of genius, comprising Histories and Treatises on Jurisprudence, together with Satires and Comedies. He was by birth a Norwegian, but was educated at the University at Copenhagen in Denmark. Soon after receiving a theological degree from that Institution, he visited Holland and England, and resided about two years at Oxford. Shortly after his return he published an "Introduction to European History," and an "Appendix to the Universal History," in which he gives an account of contemporaneous affairs in the principal governments of the world. His historical labors were interrupted by a royal appointment to a professorship in the University. This office he enjoyed for five years, and then went abroad. In his Autobiography he has given an interesting account of his travels, both at this time and subsequently, and has described men and manners in a way highly entertaining, and generally just. He visited most of the cities of Southern Europe, abiding some time in each. He was well received by men of letters, and made many valuable acquaintance, wherever he went. After remaining one whole winter at Rome, and accomplishing the object of his mission, he returned to Copenhagen. His income was now small, and for two years he was oppressed with great pecuniary difficulties. It was during this period that he published in the Danish language, his "Introduction to the Law of Nature and of Nations." In this treatise, Holberg aimed rather to apply the principles of Natural Law to the Laws and Constitutions of Norway and Denmark, than elaborately to discuss the principles themselves. The work was coldly received at its first appearance, but, after ten or twelve years began to excite public attention, and passed through several editions.

Lewis Holberg, the author of the Narrative of Niels Klim, was the most distinguished writer among the Danes in the eighteenth century. His works show a remarkably versatile talent. They include histories and treatises on law, as well as satires and comedies. He was a Norwegian by birth but studied at the University at Copenhagen in Denmark. Soon after earning a degree in theology there, he visited Holland and England and spent about two years at Oxford. Shortly after returning, he published an "Introduction to European History" and an "Appendix to the Universal History." In the latter, he describes current affairs in the world's principal governments. His historical work was interrupted when the king appointed him to a professorship at the University. He held the post for five years and then went abroad. In his Autobiography, he gives an interesting account of his travels, both on this trip and later ones. His descriptions of people and customs are highly entertaining and generally fair. He visited most of the cities of Southern Europe, spending some time in each. Writers and scholars welcomed him, and he made many valuable contacts wherever he went. After spending an entire winter in Rome and achieving the purpose of his mission, he returned to Copenhagen. His income was now small, and for two years he struggled with serious financial difficulties. During this period, he published his "Introduction to the Law of Nature and of Nations" in Danish. In this treatise, Holberg focused on applying the principles of Natural Law to the laws and constitutions of Norway and Denmark. His aim was to apply those principles rather than discuss them in detail. The work received little enthusiasm at first. But after ten or twelve years, it began to attract public attention and went through several editions.

At length, the professorship of metaphysics becoming vacant, he received the appointment. The emoluments of this office, though small, supplied his necessities, and, not long after, on obtaining a more lucrative station in the University, he was relieved from his embarrassments.

Eventually, the position of professor of metaphysics became vacant, and he was appointed to it. Although the pay was low, it covered his basic needs. Not long afterward, he obtained a better-paid position at the University, freeing him from his financial difficulties.

Hitherto, he had devoted himself almost exclusively to Jurisprudence, History and Languages, and had never tried his hand at poetical composition. Indeed, he had ever felt a strange aversion to the study of poetry, and, although he had read the Latin Poets, and composed Latin Poems, it was more for the sake of proficiency in the language, than for pleasure, or, in his own words, "as a sick man swallows bitter draughts, not because they are grateful to the palate, but, because they are recommended by the physicians."

Until then, he had devoted himself almost entirely to law, history, and languages, and had never tried writing poetry. In fact, he had always felt a strange dislike for studying poetry. Although he had read the Latin poets and written Latin poems, he did so mainly to improve his Latin. Pleasure was not his main purpose. In his own words, he did so "as a sick man swallows bitter medicine, not because it tastes good, but because doctors recommend it."

He now, however, seemed inspired by a new ambition, and set himself to imitate one of Juvenal's Satires. Encouraged by his unexpected facility, he projected and composed an original poem. Its success, when published, surpassed that of any work previously written in the Danish language. Judicious critics heartily commended it, and some even looked upon it as introducing a new era in the national literature. It was also published in Sweden and Germany, and raised the author's reputation abroad. He next published five more Satires, prefixing to each a short preface, unfolding the writer's design. His poetical productions were a source of more honor than gain, and, becoming weary of almost profitless pursuits, he abandoned poetry, and devoted himself to his former studies.

Now, however, he seemed driven by a new ambition and set out to imitate one of Juvenal's Satires. Encouraged by how unexpectedly easy he found writing, he planned and composed an original poem. When published, the poem was more successful than any previous work in the Danish language. Discerning critics praised it warmly. Some even saw the poem as marking a new era in the nation's literature. It was also published in Sweden and Germany, building the author's reputation abroad. He next published five more Satires, each with a short preface explaining his purpose. His poetry brought him more honor than money. Growing tired of work that earned him almost nothing, he gave up poetry and returned to his earlier studies.

Nevertheless, the solicitations of friends prevailed upon him to turn his attention to Dramatic composition. Here he was equally successful. His comedies were received with great applause, and still hold possession of the stage. Like his Satires, they were intended to expose fashionable vice and folly. They are twenty-five in number. The names of several will give some notion of their general character—The Babbling Barber; Always Busy and Doing Nothing; The Treacherous Step-father; The Political Tinman.

Nevertheless, his friends persuaded him to turn his attention to writing plays. He was equally successful at this. His comedies won great applause and are still performed. Like his satires, his comedies aimed to expose fashionable vice and folly. He wrote twenty-five comedies. Some of their titles give an idea of their general character: The Babbling Barber, Always Busy and Doing Nothing, The Treacherous Step-father, The Political Tinman.

His health being impaired by unintermitted literary labor, he determined to seek relief from the baths of Aix-la-Chapelle. He did not derive from them the benefit he anticipated, but, after spending the winter in Paris, returned home with renewed health and spirits. His next publication, was a Satirical Poem, entitled "Metamorphosis," in which brutes and trees are transformed into men. This was the last of his poetical efforts.

Constant literary work had damaged his health, so he decided to seek relief at the baths of Aix-la-Chapelle. The baths did not help him as much as he had hoped. But after spending the winter in Paris, he returned home with renewed health and spirits. His next publication was a satirical poem entitled "Metamorphosis," in which animals and trees are transformed into men. This was the last poem he wrote.

For several years he had been engaged in preparing "A General Ecclesiastical History from the origin of Christianity to the Reformation of Luther," which he now published. This production, the author affirms, was written with perfect impartiality. He sometimes censured the Fathers, praised heretics, when they deserved it, and occasionally even commended the Popes. It was extremely popular, though all were not pleased with its liberal spirit. A Comparative Biography of Asiatic and Indian Heroes, after Plutarch's style; A short Historical Account of his Native Town; The Narrative of Niels Klim; His Autobiography; and a History of the Jewish Nation, digested from the works of Josephus, Prideaux, and Basnage, close the list of his works.

For several years he had been preparing "A General Ecclesiastical History from the origin of Christianity to the Reformation of Luther." He now published the book. The author claims he wrote it with complete impartiality. He sometimes criticized the Fathers, praised heretics when they deserved praise, and occasionally even praised the Popes. The book was extremely popular, though not everyone liked its liberal spirit. The remaining works complete the list: A Comparative Biography of Asiatic and Indian Heroes, modeled on Plutarch's work, A short Historical Account of his Native Town, The Narrative of Niels Klim, His Autobiography, and a History of the Jewish Nation, compiled from the works of Josephus, Prideaux, and Basnage.

"The Journey to the World under ground," or "Narrative of Niels Klim," had been written for a long time, but he had refrained from printing it from an unwillingness to provoke enmity. But the importunity of friends, and the generous offer of a bookseller finally prevailed, and he put it into the printer's hands. The following account of this performance is abridged from his autobiography.

He had written "The Journey to the World under ground," or "Narrative of Niels Klim," long before. But he had held back from publishing it because he did not want to make enemies. His friends' persistent urging and a bookseller's generous offer finally persuaded him, and he sent the book to the printer. The following account of the work is shortened from his autobiography.

There are many persons of both sexes in my country, who believe in fairies and supernatural beings, and who are ready to swear, that they have been conveyed by spirits to hills and mountain caves. This superstition is ridiculed in Klim, the hero of the tale. He is supposed to be transported to the world under ground, where he meets with some surprising adventures. Many strange creatures inhabit this new world; trees, for instance, are introduced, endowed with speech, and musical instruments discuss questions of philosophy and finance. Amongst the characters, those geniuses, who perceive everything at a glance, but penetrate nothing, are conspicuous. People of quick perception, whom we use to admire, are despised by the Potuans, who look upon them as idle loungers, that, though always moving, make no progress. Prudent men, on the contrary, who measure their own strength, and advance cautiously, are greatly esteemed by that nation, though with us they pass for fools or cowards. The Potuans and Martinians are examples of both these extremes. By the former Klim was considered a blockhead, on account of the quickness of his perceptions; by the latter he was equally despised for the slowness of his apprehension. To Klim, who measures virtues and vices by the ordinary standard, everything is a paradox; but what he at first condemns, he admires and extols after deliberation; so that the object of the whole work is to correct popular errors, and to distinguish the semblance of virtue and vice from the reality. Its subordinate design is to expose the monstrous fictions, which some authors obtrude upon us in their descriptions of remote countries.

Many men and women in my country believe in fairies and supernatural beings. They are ready to swear that spirits have carried them to hills and mountain caves. This superstition is mocked through Klim, the hero of the tale. He is imagined to travel to an underground world, where he has some surprising adventures. Many strange creatures inhabit this new world. Trees, for instance, can speak, and musical instruments discuss philosophy and finance. Among the characters, those brilliant minds who grasp everything at a glance but understand nothing deeply stand out. The Potuans despise people with quick minds, whom we tend to admire. They see such people as idle loafers who, though always moving, make no progress. By contrast, the Potuans greatly respect sensible people who know their own limits and proceed cautiously. Yet among us, such people pass for fools or cowards. The Potuans and Martinians represent these two extremes. The Potuans thought Klim a fool because his mind worked so quickly. The Martinians despised him just as much because he was slow to understand. Klim judges virtues and vices by the usual standards, so everything seems contradictory to him. But after reflection, he admires and praises what he first condemned. Thus, the work’s main aim is to correct popular errors and distinguish apparent virtue and vice from the real thing. Its secondary aim is to expose the outrageous inventions some authors force upon us in their descriptions of distant countries.

"The Narrative of Niels Klim," though written so many years ago, contains many satirical hits, exceedingly applicable to the present time; thus showing that what appears to one age to be a whim altogether new, may be, in fact, only some old notion newly promulgated. Greater liberties were allowed at that period in literature than would now be permitted. Holberg's humorous productions are not wholly free from a fault, whose existence the taste of any age may explain, but does not excuse.

"The Narrative of Niels Klim," though written so many years ago, contains many satirical observations that apply closely to our own time. This shows that what one age sees as an entirely new fancy may be only an old idea promoted again. Literature was allowed greater freedom at that time than would be permitted now. Holberg's humorous works are not entirely free from a fault that any age's tastes may explain but cannot excuse.

After living in competency for many years in Copenhagen, he was, in 1747, created a baron by the king of Denmark. He died in 1754.

He lived comfortably in Copenhagen for many years. In 1747, the king of Denmark made him a baron. He died in 1754.