In Sweden, is the title of two volumes of Sketches of Travel, by Hans Christian Andersen, just published at Leipzic. They are replete with all the poetic charm and genial humor which his pen imparts to every subject it touches.
Henrich Zeise is a Danish novelist with whose works we have in this country no acquaintance, but who has just been introduced to the Germans by a translation into their language of his Novels of Christian Winther, which are praised by the critics as not only well written, but as affording an excellent idea of Danish social life. Zeise is the son of a country parson of Lolland; was born in 1796; and first distinguished himself by his fugitive poems, which in 1820 were collected in a volume. He travelled in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, and in 1832 published a collection of translations from the German poets and other writers. In 1835, he brought out a second series of his own poems, in which he abandoned to a great degree his previous popular style, and put on the manners of fashionable society. This was not a successful experiment. His novels are more recent; the best, Osterie, was published in 1843. In 1849 he translated Reinecke Fuchs into Danish, preserving the original metre. He now has a pension from government, and lives at Copenhagen.
Tegner, the great Swedish poet, is known to American and English readers through Frithiof's Saga and Longfellow's translations of his Children of the Lord's Supper. A German version of his more recent writings is now making its appearance at Leipzic. The first number contains Gerda, a fragment of an unfinished heroic poem which is spoken of as very admirable, and a few little comic poems which are said to be charming. Adam and Eve figure in one of these.
Heinrich Von Ortenburg has published a second edition of his poetical tale, entitled Nachtbluthen—Night-blooms, or Night-flowers—and John G. Seide, the Viennese, an increased edition of The Songs of the Night. The two will serve to bind up with Voices of the Night—though perhaps there are German or Sclavonic poems that would better serve this purpose.
Bomische Rosen, Czechische Volkslieder (Bohemian Roses, or National Songs), by Ida Von Duringsfeld, and published by Kern, of Breslau, will undoubtedly attract the attention of the rapidly increasing circle of friends of Sclavonic literature. Also Sketches of Travel, by the same authoress, published by Schlodtmann, of Bremen.