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Johannes Ewald
1743–1781
A major voice in early Danish literature, he brought new emotional intensity to poetry and drama. He is still remembered in Denmark for work that helped shape the country’s literary identity—and for lyrics that became part of a national anthem.
1 Audiobook
The Death of Balder
by Johannes Ewald
About the author
Born in Copenhagen in 1743, Johannes Ewald became one of Denmark’s most important 18th-century writers. He is widely described as a poet, dramatist, and psalm writer, and his work helped move Danish literature toward a more personal, expressive style.
Ewald is especially known for plays and poems that combine strong feeling with myth, history, and patriotism. A song from his play The Fishermen supplied the words to “Kong Christian stod ved højen mast,” which later took on the status of one of Denmark’s national anthems.
His life was short and often difficult, and he died in 1781 at just 37 years old. Even so, his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime, and he remains a central figure in the story of Danish literature.