The directory «Plots»
Holberg Ludvig
(1684—1754)
Professor Ludvig Holberg was the major character in Danish and Norwegian literature at the time of the Enlightenment - and he is still much admired.
He was born in Bergen in Norway, went for England for some years in his youth - and then settled in Copenhagen. At that time Norway and Denmark was a dual kingdom, and some Norwegians went to Denmark and vice versa. Later on he travelled some years in France and Italy.
Holberg was promoted to the chair of public eloquence at the University of Copenhagen (est. 1479); some years later he was promoted to the chair of history - and he was a Rector and a Treasurer for some years, too.
Holberg was a great scholar and a highly productive and versatile writer. His writings were on natural law and natural rights, history and philosophy, but he also made up scathing satires and vivid comedies that are performed even today. Some of the comedies are «The Political Tinker», «Erasmus Montanus» and «Jeppe of the Hill». Holberg wrote against haughtiness and false wisdom - in the comedies and in his essays.
In the essays - the «Epistles» - he discussed many problems of contemporary importance; like other European writers of that time he - for instance - grappled with the insoluble theodicy-problem.
In 1739 Holberg published «The Achievements of Great Heroes». He had taken inspiration from the ancient Greek writer Plutarch, who once compared outstanding Greek and Roman figures.
Holberg wrote about 12 pairs: Zoroaster and Mohammed, Sulla and Caesar, Socrates and Epaminondas - and Zizka and Scanderbeg. The figures were - as it appears - highly important figures from different times and different places.
Denmark, 1972, «The Tinker» (from Holberg's satire)
Denmark, 1984, Holberg meeting Officer and Dandy
Norway, 1934, Ludvig Holberg
Norway, 1934, Ludvig Holberg
Norway, 1934, Ludvig Holberg
Norway, 1934, Ludvig Holberg
Norway, 1984, Ludvig Holberg
Denmark, 1972.09.14, 
Aarhus. Ludvig Holberg
Denmark, 1984.10.05, Copenhagen. Arms of Holberg
