Johan Herman Wessel (6 October 1742 – 29 December 1785) was an 18th-century Danish-Norwegian poet, satirist and playwright. His written work was characterized by the use of parody and satiric wit.[1]
Johan Herman Wessel from Berømte danske Mænd og Kvinder by J. P. Trap. 1868Bust of Johan Herman Wessel by Julius Middelthun at NasjonalgallerietBust of Johan Herman Wessel at Wessels plass in Oslo
Wessel was born and raised at Vestby in Akershus, Norway. He was the son of Jonas Wessel (1707–1785) and Helene Maria Schumacher (1715–1789). His father was a parish priest. He was one of thirteen children in a family. His younger brothers included mathematician Caspar Wessel (1745–1818) and jurist Ole Christopher Wessel (1744–1794) His sister-in-law was landowner Maren Juel (1749–1815) and naval hero Peter Tordenskjold (1690–1720) was his great uncle.
He entered attended Oslo Cathedral School in 1757 followed by the University of Copenhagen in 1761. At the university, he studied foreign languages. He later made a living principally as a tutor and translator. He lived most of his somewhat bohemian life in Copenhagen, dependent on casual work and weakened by bad health and drinking. Wessel became the admired centre of The Norwegian Society (Norske Selskab) a grouping of Norwegian literary figures cultivating their national identity in Copenhagen, and writing in classical metres.[2]
Personal lifeedit
In 1780, he married Anna Catharia Bukier (1748–1813). They were the parents of one son, Jonas Wessel who was born in 1781. The marriage suffered from his alcoholism, depression and inability as a provider. Johan Herman Wessel died at age 43 in Copenhagen and was buried in the cemetery of Trinitatis Church.
Worksedit
Wessel's poems and plays are frequently satirical and humorous. His literary style is deliberate elaborate and digressive and at the same time elegant and witty. Another genre is the epigram that he mastered, especially his short, witty, impudent, precise and also self-ironic commemorative poems.
Wessel is known first of all for his many humorous and satiric verse tales referring to man's foolishness and injustice. Most notable is Smeden og Bageren ("The Smith and the Baker") about the only smith of a village who is pardoned for manslaughter since the village people need one, while a more superfluous baker is executed instead (there are two bakers, the village only needs one) in order to observe the rules that "life pays life".
In Herremanden ("The Squire") a man coming to Hell makes unpleasant discoveries of the origin of his own son while Hundemordet ("The Dog Murder") tells about wrangle about trivial things.
His satirical play Kierlighed uden Strømper ( Love without Stockings, 1772—with epilogue, 1774) is a generic parody of neoclassical tragedy; it takes place in a daily milieu of banal conflicts but observes the formal rules of "heroic language". It is still performed.
Another play Anno 7603 was written in 1781. It has a low literary value, and it has never been performed—it is held in such low esteem that it is often omitted from lists of his works[3] —but it has some cult status since this is one of the first examples of time travel in fiction.[4] The main characters, Leander and Julie, are moved by a fairy[5] to a future (AD 7603) in which gender roles have been switched and only women are allowed to fight in the military.
The traditional restaurant Wesselstuen in Bergen, Norway features many decorations inspired by his works.[6]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to J. H. Wessel.
Referencesedit
^Øystein Rottem. "Johan Herman Wessel". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
^Liv Bliksrud. "Johan Herman Wessel, Dikter". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
^Stewart, Jon Bartley (2009). Kierkegaard and the Renaissance and Modern Traditions: Literature, drama, and music. Ashgate Publishing. p. 249. ISBN978-0-7546-6820-6. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
^Nahin, Paul J. (2011). Time Travel: A Writer's Guide to the Real Science of Plausible Time Travel. JHU Press. p. xv. ISBN978-1-4214-0082-2. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
^Nahin, Paul J. (1999). Time machines: time travel in physics, metaphysics, and science fiction. Springer. p. 4. ISBN978-0-387-98571-8. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
^. Bergen Guide. Archived from the original on July 9, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
Liv Bliksrud, Den smilende makten : Norske Selskab i København og Johan Herman Wessel, Aschehoug, 1999. ISBN82-03-18146-5. (Norwegian)
External linksedit
Wesselstuen website
December 15, 2023
johan, herman, wessel, october, 1742, december, 1785, 18th, century, danish, norwegian, poet, satirist, playwright, written, work, characterized, parody, satiric, from, berømte, danske, mænd, kvinder, trap, 1868bust, julius, middelthun, nasjonalgallerietbust, . Johan Herman Wessel 6 October 1742 29 December 1785 was an 18th century Danish Norwegian poet satirist and playwright His written work was characterized by the use of parody and satiric wit 1 Johan Herman Wessel from Beromte danske Maend og Kvinder by J P Trap 1868Bust of Johan Herman Wessel by Julius Middelthun at NasjonalgallerietBust of Johan Herman Wessel at Wessels plass in Oslo Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Works 4 See also 5 References 6 Other sources 7 External linksBiography editWessel was born and raised at Vestby in Akershus Norway He was the son of Jonas Wessel 1707 1785 and Helene Maria Schumacher 1715 1789 His father was a parish priest He was one of thirteen children in a family His younger brothers included mathematician Caspar Wessel 1745 1818 and jurist Ole Christopher Wessel 1744 1794 His sister in law was landowner Maren Juel 1749 1815 and naval hero Peter Tordenskjold 1690 1720 was his great uncle He entered attended Oslo Cathedral School in 1757 followed by the University of Copenhagen in 1761 At the university he studied foreign languages He later made a living principally as a tutor and translator He lived most of his somewhat bohemian life in Copenhagen dependent on casual work and weakened by bad health and drinking Wessel became the admired centre of The Norwegian Society Norske Selskab a grouping of Norwegian literary figures cultivating their national identity in Copenhagen and writing in classical metres 2 Personal life editIn 1780 he married Anna Catharia Bukier 1748 1813 They were the parents of one son Jonas Wessel who was born in 1781 The marriage suffered from his alcoholism depression and inability as a provider Johan Herman Wessel died at age 43 in Copenhagen and was buried in the cemetery of Trinitatis Church Works editWessel s poems and plays are frequently satirical and humorous His literary style is deliberate elaborate and digressive and at the same time elegant and witty Another genre is the epigram that he mastered especially his short witty impudent precise and also self ironic commemorative poems Wessel is known first of all for his many humorous and satiric verse tales referring to man s foolishness and injustice Most notable is Smeden og Bageren The Smith and the Baker about the only smith of a village who is pardoned for manslaughter since the village people need one while a more superfluous baker is executed instead there are two bakers the village only needs one in order to observe the rules that life pays life In Herremanden The Squire a man coming to Hell makes unpleasant discoveries of the origin of his own son while Hundemordet The Dog Murder tells about wrangle about trivial things His satirical play Kierlighed uden Stromper Love without Stockings 1772 with epilogue 1774 is a generic parody of neoclassical tragedy it takes place in a daily milieu of banal conflicts but observes the formal rules of heroic language It is still performed Another play Anno 7603 was written in 1781 It has a low literary value and it has never been performed it is held in such low esteem that it is often omitted from lists of his works 3 but it has some cult status since this is one of the first examples of time travel in fiction 4 The main characters Leander and Julie are moved by a fairy 5 to a future AD 7603 in which gender roles have been switched and only women are allowed to fight in the military The traditional restaurant Wesselstuen in Bergen Norway features many decorations inspired by his works 6 See also editJohannes Ewald and Johan Hermann Wessel Memorial nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to J H Wessel References edit Oystein Rottem Johan Herman Wessel Store norske leksikon Retrieved June 1 2016 Liv Bliksrud Johan Herman Wessel Dikter Norsk biografisk leksikon Retrieved June 1 2016 Stewart Jon Bartley 2009 Kierkegaard and the Renaissance and Modern Traditions Literature drama and music Ashgate Publishing p 249 ISBN 978 0 7546 6820 6 Retrieved 14 July 2011 Nahin Paul J 2011 Time Travel A Writer s Guide to the Real Science of Plausible Time Travel JHU Press p xv ISBN 978 1 4214 0082 2 Retrieved 14 July 2011 Nahin Paul J 1999 Time machines time travel in physics metaphysics and science fiction Springer p 4 ISBN 978 0 387 98571 8 Retrieved 14 July 2011 Wesselstuen Bergen Guide Archived from the original on July 9 2016 Retrieved June 1 2016 Other sources editLiv Bliksrud Johan Herman Wessel og hans tid Wesselakademiet 2000 ISBN 82 92033 01 7 Norwegian Liv Bliksrud Den smilende makten Norske Selskab i Kobenhavn og Johan Herman Wessel Aschehoug 1999 ISBN 82 03 18146 5 Norwegian External links editWesselstuen website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johan Herman Wessel amp oldid 1168363560, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
