Christian Winther

Christian Winther ( full name: Rasmus Villads Christian Ferdinand Winther; born July 29, 1796 in Fensmark to Næstved, † December 30, 1876 in Paris, France) was a Danish writer. He was known primarily for his poems and songs, some folk songs of which were. He also published prose.

Biography

Winther was born as the son of the pastor Hans Christian Winther and his wife Johanne Dorothea Borchsenius in Fensmark on Zealand. After her husband died in 1808, married in 1812 Rasmus Winther's mother Møller, the pastor in Købelev was, and later became bishop. Møller brought two sons into the marriage, Hans Ulrik and Poul Martin, who was also a writer. Winther and his step- brothers knew each other and were friends. They attended the same school, a high school in Nykøbing. Winther was gifted the language and music in particular. He played the violin and wrote his first poems.

After finishing school in 1815 he went to Copenhagen, where he studied theology, however, are busy with other things. For a time he made ​​an effort to become an actor, he also worked as a teacher. Mostly he lived again in Købelev, where he found more peace of mind for his studies than in the capital Copenhagen. In his study time also falls Winther first release: the 1818 resulting student song production under Nathimlens Rolige Skygge. Since he was, however, not convinced by his poetic skills, it remained for a long time his only publication. In 1824 he finally completed his studies.

The following year Winther received a position as tutor to a rich family. He fell in love with one of the daughters and wrote love poems, which appeared in magazines. Winther 1828 first published a collection of poems.

1829 died Uncle Rasmus Winther, and he inherited a portion of his assets. A few months later, in spring 1830, also died Winther's mother. From 1830 to 1831, Winther was traveling in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, which was also made possible by his legacy. In Rome he met Ludvig Bødtcher who became a good friend of his. On this trip he collected diverse impressions, dealt with Italian poetry, and planned an epic poem in German. However, this was never completed. Back in Denmark published Winther several books of poetry and stories. From Conrad Peter Reich Graf zu Rantzau Winther was supported at this time.

Winther 1841 was awarded the title of professor, and he was sent by King Christian VIII to Neustrelitz to inform the future Crown Princess Caroline of Mecklenburg in the Danish language. Even after Caroline's wedding to Crown Prince Frederick he remained until 1842 teacher of the princess, now in Copenhagen and Odense.

1848 married Julie Winther Werliin he knew already since 1836. However, it was at that time still with her first husband, a pastor Jutland, married, from which it separated in 1843. Winther's relationship with the still married Julie Werliin was also perceived by the public. Your devoted Winther his cycle of poems published in 1843 Til Een.

As Winther's most important work, however, applies Hjortens Flugt, an epic poem in the style of the Nibelungenlied, the deer appeared in 1957 under the title Des escape in German language.

Swell

• Vilhelm Østergaard: Illustreret dansk literature history. Danske Digtere i det 19de Aarhundrede, Copenhagen 1907
• Sigurd Müller: Kortfattet Dansk Litteraturhistorie Til Brug I Skole og Hjem, Copenhagen 1893
• Sven Hakon Rossel: A history of Scandinavian literatures, Lincoln ( Nebraska) 1992