Olof von Dalin

Olof von Dalin
Olof von Dalin

Olof von Dalin (29 August 1708 – 12 August 1763) was a Swedish nobleman, poet, historian and courtier. He was an influential literary figure of the Swedish Enlightenment. [1]

Contents

Background

Olaf Dalin was born in the parish of Vinberg in Halland. His parents were Jonas Dalin and Margareta Birgitta Auseen. His father was the parish minister. His birth name prior to knighthood was Dahlin. Olof Dalin's father had taken his name from his hometown, Dalstorp in the County of Älvsborg. He was closely related to Andreas Rydelius (1671–1738), Bishop of Lund, and he was sent at a very early age to be instructed by him. Carl Linnaeus was one of his fellow-pupils.

Career

Den Svenska Argus December 13, 1732

In 1723, while studying at Lund University, he first accompanying his stepfather, Severin Böckman, to Stockholm and in 1726 he entered into public office there. Under the patronage of Baron Claes Rålamb (1682–1751) he rapidly rose to favor, and his skill and intelligence won him a golden reputation. In the 1730s, Dalin wrote plays for the theatre, inspired by French dramas and much admired by his contemporaries. In 1733 he started the weekly Svenska Argus, on the model of Joseph Addison's The Spectator, writing anonymously till 1736. Svenska Argus was a champion of the Enlightenment and aimed to raise the level of culture in Sweden . His next work was Tankar öfver Critiquer (1736).[2]

He became Royal Librarian (1737–39) and was later appointed National Historiographer (1755–56). With the avowed purpose of enlarging the horizons of his cultivation and tastes, Dalin set off, in the company of his pupil, Baron Rålamb's son, on a tour through Germany and France, in 1739-1740. Upon his return, the shifting political life at home caused him to write his famous satirical allegories, Sagan om Hästen and Aprilverk (1738), that were very popular and inspired countless imitations.

During the early part of his life, he was universally admitted to be facile princeps among the Swedish poets of his time. His dramas were also of interest, particularly his comedy of Den afvundsjuke (1738). He also wrote a tragedy, Brynilda (1759), and a pastoral in three scenes upon King Adolphus Frederick's return from Finland.[3]

His didactic epos of Svenska Friheten appeared in 1742. Hitherto, Addison and Alexander Pope had been his models. In this work he draws his inspiration from Thomson, whose poem, Liberty, he emulated. In 1742, he was made a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Dalin started publishing his Swedish history, Svea Rikes Historia in 1747. He would die before this work was complete.[4]

On the accession of King Adolphus Frederick of Sweden in 1751, Dalin received the post of Tutor to the crown prince – afterwards Gustavus III. He had enjoyed the confidence of Queen Louisa Ulrika, sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia, while she was crown princess, and she now made him secretary of the Swedish Academy of Letters, founded by her in 1753.

His position at court involved him in the queen's political intrigues, and separated him to a vexatious degree from the studies wherein he had hitherto been absorbed. He held the post of Tutor to the crown prince until 1756, when he was arrested on suspicion of taking part in the attempted coup d'état that year, and was tried for his life before the diet. He was acquitted, but was forbidden to show himself at court on any pretense. This period of exile, lasting until 1761, Dalin spent in the preparation of the third volume of his great historical work, the Svea Rikes historia, that related events up to the death of King Charles IX of Sweden in 1611. The first two volumes appeared in 1746-1750; the third, in two parts, in 1760-1762.

Dalin had been made a noble in 1751, and made privy councillor in 1753. In 1761, he once more took his place at court. During his exile, however, his spirit and his health had been broken. In a fit of panic, he had destroyed some manuscripts of his best unpublished works, and this he constantly brooded over. In 1763, he died at his house in Drottningholm.

Posthumous works

In the year 1767, his writings in belles lettres were issued in six volumes, edited by his half brother, J. C. Bökman. Amid an enormous mass of occasional verses, anagrams, epigrams, impromptus and the like, his satires and serious poems were almost buried. But some of these former, even, are found to be songs of remarkable grace and delicacy, and many display a love of natural scenery, and a knowledge of its forms.

Selected works

  • Brynilda (1738)
  • Den afwundsiuke (1738)
  • Sagan om hästen (1740)
  • Swenska friheten (1742)
  • Svea rikes historia (Volume 1-4, 1747–1762)
  • Witterhets-Arbeten (Volume 1-6, 1767; postumt)

Olof von Dalin Society

The Olof von Dalin Society was founded in 1995 at Dalin's native Vinberg near Falkenberg, Sweden. Its mission is to encourage the study, appreciation and understanding of Olof von Dalin, his works, his life and his times.

References

  1. ^ Dalin, Olof von (Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon)
  2. ^ Skriftställare. Olof Dalin (Svensk litteraturhistoria i sammandrag)
  3. ^ Olof von Dalin - Public Debater, Historian, Renewer of the Swedish Language
  4. ^ Andrew Ramsay’s and Olof Dalin’s influence on the Romantic Interpretation of Old Norse Mythology (Lars Lönnroth. Gothenburg University)

Other sources

  • Carlsson, Ingemar Olof von Dalin - Samhällsdebattör, Historiker, Språkförnyare (CAL-förlaget. Falkenberg 1997)
  • Carlsson, Ingemar Olof von Dalin som tecknare (Förlag Utsikten, Falkenberg 2003)
  • Warburg, Karl Johan, Olof Dalin: Hans life och gerning: Litterturhistorisk Avhandling (Stockholm : Norstedt, 1884)
  • Wikander, Ruth Studier över stil och språk i Dalins Argus (Uppsala : Appelberg, 1924)

External links


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  • Olof von Dalin — (1708 1763), escritor sueco de la Ilustración, poeta e historiador, nació el 29 de agosto de 1708 en Vinberg, Halland, considerado como gran pionero de la literatura sueca y precursor de las letras escandinavas. Su padre era ministro, por lo que… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Olof von dalin — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Dalin. Olof von Dalin (né à Vinberg en 1708 et mort en 1763) est un historien et écrivain suédois. Il fut conseiller de la chancellerie, puis chancelier de la cour. Son gouvernement le chargea d écrire l Histoire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Olof von Dalin — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Dalin. Olof von Dalin (né à Vinberg en 1708 et mort en 1763) est un historien et écrivain suédois. Il fut conseiller de la chancellerie, puis chancelier de la cour. Son gouvernement le chargea d écrire l Histoire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dalin, Olof von — (1708 1763)    A Swedish essayist and poet, Dalin is his country s most important Enlightenment figure. The son of a minister and educated at Lund University, he did not get a degree but was asked to serve as a private tutor to a noble family.… …   Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Literature and Theater

  • Dalin, Olof von — ▪ Swedish author born Aug. 29, 1708, Vinberg, Swed. died Aug. 12, 1763, Stockholm  writer and historian who wrote the first easily readable and popular Swedish works and who helped bring the ideas of the Enlightenment into Swedish culture.… …   Universalium

  • Dalin — is a Swedish surname. The name may also appear as Dahlin. Both surnames are derived from the Swedish word dal meaning valley. Dalin may refer to: Olof von Dalin (1708–1763), Swedish poet. Liu Dalin (born c. 1932), Chinese sexologist. David G.… …   Wikipedia

  • Olof — u Olaf (nórdico antiguo: Óláfr), y su variante hiberno nórdico Amlaíb, es un nombre masculino de origen escandinavo, fue muy popular en la Era vikinga. Puede referirse a: Contenido 1 Reyes y caudillos vikingos 1.1 Amlaíb 2 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Dalin — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Dalin peut désigner : Toponyme La ville de Dalin est une subdivision administrative de la province de Taïwan en République de Chine. Patronyme Olof… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Dalīn — Dalīn, Olof von, schwed. Dichter und Historiker, geb. 29. Aug. 1708 in der Provinz Halland, gest. 12. Aug. 1763 auf Drottningholm, studierte in Lund erst Medizin, dann Philosophie und Geschichte, trat in Stockholm, wo er seit 1731 bei… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Dalīn — Dalīn, Olof von D., geb. 1708 in Winberga in Halland; studirte Medicin, dann Jura, wurde 1751 Erzieher des schwedischen Kronprinzen, 1759 Kanzleirath, später Hofkanzler u. st. 1763 zu Stockholm; er hatte Antheil an der Stiftung der Akademie der… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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