Fun Facts Friday: Johannes V. Jensen

Johannes V. Jensen (20 January, 1873 – 25 November, 1950) was a Danish author and Noble Prize winner.

Book by Johannes V. Jensen

1)      Mr. Jensen is considered to be the first great 20^th Century Danish writer.

2)      Son of veterinary surgeon, Mr. Jensen worked as a writer to finance his tuition studying medicine at the University of Copenhagen.

3)      The V stands for Vilhelm.

4)      Kongens Fald (The Fall of the King), considered his first masterpiece written around 1900-1901 was a historical novel of King Christian II.

5)      In 1999 two Danish newspapers proclaimed, independently, that Kongens Fald was the best Danish novel of the 20^th Century.

6)      His collection of poems Digte 1906 is considered his greatest literary achievement.

7)      Digte 1906 introduced prose poem to Danish literature.

8)      Mr. Jensen worked as a journalist for many years without actually joining the staff of any newspaper.

9)      Mr. Jensen’s sister, Thit Jensen, was also a famous writer, controversial and an early feminist.

10)   Den lange rejse, (The Long Journey) six novels written between 1908 and 1922 were a controversial attempt to write a Darwinian alternative to the biblical creation story, from the ice age to Columbus.

Zohar – Man of la Book
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