Editing Bernhard Severin Ingemann (section)

==Biography==
Ingemann was born in  [[Torkilstrup]], on the island of [[Falster]], Denmark.  The son of a vicar, he was left fatherless in his youth.

He attended Slagelse Latin school with the chemist [[William Christopher Zeise]] and the poet [[Christian Hviid Bredahl]].<ref name=SA1>{{cite web |url= http://www.slagelsearkiverne.dk/zeise-william-christopher-1789-1847-professor-kemiker/ |title=Zeise, William Christopher (1789-1847), professor, chemist |author=<!--Not stated-->|date=|website=Slagelse Archive |publisher=|access-date=January 15, 2025|quote=}}</ref><ref name=S>{{cite web |url= http://www.slagelsearkiverne.dk/category/mindesmaerker-sevaerdigheder/ |title=Fiction Writers and Southwest Zealand|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=|website=Slagelse Archive |publisher=|access-date=January 15, 2025|quote=}}</ref> While a student at the [[University of Copenhagen]] he published his first collection of poems (1811; vol. ii., 1812), which show great influence of German romanticism. Critics describe their sickly sentimentality as reflecting the unhealthy condition of the poet's body and mind at this time. These works were followed by a long allegorical poem, ''De sorte Riddere'' (The Black Knights, 1814), which closed his first period.

Then followed six plays, of which the best is considered to be ''Reinald Underbarnet'' (The Miraculous Child Reinald, 1816), and the most popular, ''Blanca'', (1815). In 1817 he published his first prose work, ''De Underjordiske, et bornholmsk Eventyr'' (The Subterranean Ones, a Story of Bornholm), which was followed in 1820 by ''Eventyr og Fortællinger'' (Narratives and Miraculous Tales), many of them imitations of Hoffmann. During 1818–19 he traveled on the Continent.

[[File:Ingemanns Hus (Sorø Academy).JPG|thumb|The Ingemann House at [[Sorø Academy]] in [[Sorø]]]]
In 1822 he was appointed instructor of the Danish Language and Literature at the Academy of Sorø. During his next period, inspired by [[Walter Scott|Scott]]'s [[Waverley Novels|Waverley novels]], Ingemann produced his series of historical romances, by virtue of which he disputes with H. C. Andersen the title of the children's writer of Denmark. Their subjects are all taken from Danish history. The first, and perhaps the best, is ''Valdemar Sejr'' ([[Valdemar II of Denmark|Valdemar the Victorious]], 1826), which was followed by ''Erik Menveds Barndom'' ([[Eric VI of Denmark|Erik Menved]]'s Childhood, 1828); ''Kong Erik og de Fredløse'' (King Erik and the Outlaws, 1833); and ''Prins Otto af Danmark og Hans Samtid'' ([[Otto, Duke of Lolland and Estonia|Prince Otto]] of Denmark and his Time, 1835).

While his historical romances show a lack of accuracy, their strong nationality gives them a special interest to the student of Danish culture. In reality they mean the introduction of the [[historical novel]] in Danish literature. A later artistic novel ''Landsbybørnene'' from 1852 ("The Village Children") is now almost forgotten.

Known as the fourth great Danish hymn writer (after [[Thomas Hansen Kingo|Kingo]], [[Hans Adolf Brorson|Brorson]] and [[N. F. S. Grundtvig|Grundtvig]]), Ingemann is considered less rooted in Biblical dogma and more borne up by a general spiritual and religious interest. A simple naivete runs through them. Especially popular were his ''Morgen og Aftensange'' (Morning and Evening Songs), a collection of religious poems of great beauty and spirituality written during 1837–39. They were set to music by the composer [[Christoph Ernst Friedrich Weyse|Weyse]]. Many of them have been classics in Danish schools (for instance ''I Østen stiger Solen op'' – "In the East the Sun rises" and ''Fred hviler over Land og By'' – "Peace is resting over Land and Town"). Also his [[Christmas]] hymns are popular. He also wrote poems of historic and mythological content in the heroic saga ''[[Holger Danske]]'' ("Ogier the Dane", 1837).

He was a personal friend of Grundtvig who was in some degrees his mentor and with whom he shared a deep interest of Danish medieval history. Often they have been regarded almost mental twins in spite of clear differences. Also [[Steen Steensen Blicher|Blicher]] and [[Hans Christian Andersen|H. C. Andersen]] must be mentioned among his friends.

Ingemann was in his elder years much respected and after the death of [[Oehlenschläger]] he was regarded the unofficial poet-king of Denmark. Critics cite Ingemann's grace and delicacy, rather than strength, of style, both in prose and poetry. He died in [[Sorø]].

Ingemann was married to [[Lucie Ingemann|Lucie Marie Mandix]] (1792–1868), a painter, whose works still hang in Danish churches.<ref name=kvinfo>{{cite web|url=http://www.kvinfo.dk/side/597/bio/646/origin/170/|title=Lucie Ingemann (1792 - 1868)|author=Fabritius, Elisabeth|publisher=Kvinfo|access-date=7 March 2017 |language=da}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Kunst_og_kultur/Billedkunst/Danmark_1850-1910/Lucie_Ingemann|title=Lucie Ingemann|encyclopedia=Den Store Danske|access-date=7 March 2017 |language=da}}</ref>