Adam Oehlenschläger is typically numbered among Denmark's most appreciated and revered writers. Although not as famous internationally as his contemporaries Søren Kierkegaard and Hans Christian Andersen, he retains a continuing appeal at home. During his lifetime Oehlenschläger was celebrated for his efforts to awaken an appreciation for distinctly Nordic history and culture among his fellow Danes as well as for the original role he played in mediating between Danish literature and European Romanticism. He remains, moreover, an important influence in contemporary cultural life whose impact has been often acknowledged by advocates of diverse positions.

Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger (originally spelled "Øhlenschlæger") was born in the Vesterbro quarter of Copenhagen on 14 November 1779 into a middle-class family. His father, Joachim Conrad Oehlenschläger, originally from Slesvig, was the organist at Frederiksberg Church and, later, overseer at Frederiksberg Castle, where...