Claus Fasting

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bust of Claus Fasting by Ambrosia Tønnesen in front of the library in Bergen

Claus Fasting (born October 29, 1746 in Bergen , † December 25, 1791 in Bergen) was a Norwegian editor, author and critic.

Life

His parents were the pastor Frederik Fasting (1718–1769) and his wife Gerhardine ("Gertke") von Güllich (1716–1770). He remained unmarried.

Fasting was an important figure in Norwegian intellectual life at the end of the 18th century and the first Norwegian modern prose writer.

Fasting was first taught privately and then attended Latin school from 1759 to 1761. In 1762 he passed the examination in philosophy in Copenhagen. Then he returned to Bergen. There he studied theology privately and passed the theological state examination in Copenhagen in 1766. After completing his studies, he stayed in Copenhagen, became an editor in a smaller newspaper and studied French and English literature and philosophy intensively. He also learned to play the piano and became an excellent pianist. He also gave piano lessons. In 1768 he returned to Bergen. There he became a private teacher and co-founder of the music association "Det frivillige Harmonisters Akademi", whose secretary he became in 1777. After the death of his parents, he turned away from theology and returned to Copenhagen in 1770. During this time he became a member of "Det Norske Selskab". Few were as well versed in contemporary and older European literature as he was. This education and his apt epigrams made him a central figure in this society. He suffered from constant financial difficulties, and in the 1770s he earned his living as a private teacher, translator for the theater and volunteered in the archives of the Rentkammer. For a while he was also the lottery secretary.

In 1772 he wrote his play Hermione in the French Alexandrian style in response to an award from the royal theater for the best tragedy , but it was not accepted. Some of his comedies were performed at the royal theater without much success. He also wrote a little poetry. It quickly became clear that he was not a great poet. He secured his place in Norwegian literary history through his literary reviews and prose texts. In 1773 he and friends published the Kritisk Journal and from 1775 to 1776 Kritisk Tilskuer (The Critical Viewer), where he unsuccessfully wrote a biting satire against mediocrity.

In 1777 he returned to Bergen and stayed there until his death. Disappointments, debts and his hypochondria troubled him. From 1778 to 1781 he published the Provinzialblatt in four volumes, which, with the exception of a few issues, was written by himself. The paper was entertaining and instructive and dealt with a wide variety of topics. In addition to moralizing texts, there are also essays on well-known contemporary people, for example Voltaire , and many translations. His role models were Frederik Sneedorff and the English Spectator . In his magazine he also advocated the establishment of a secondary school and a commercial school in Bergen. He also teased Erik Pontoppidan and pietism . The magazine was very demanding and found little audience.

In 1781 he got a job as a police prosecutor. As such, he was strictly against all cruelty, especially the urban upper class against the social lower class. In 1783, after countless letters of application, he became a deputy member of the magistrate and in 1787 a member of the magistrate, which earned him 400 Rigsdaler annually. This was the first time that he was financially secure.

In 1791 Fasting started a new magazine, the Provinzialsamlinger , but he only managed to finish one issue before his death. The booklet essentially contained plant geography.

His life in Bergen was overshadowed by a tragic love story. A great love had broken out between him and his 13-year-old private student Alette Sophie, but her mother Henrica Rohde was also in love with him. In the end, mother and daughter moved out of town, exposing fasting as a dangerous seducer. This left a permanent wound on him and is believed to have contributed to his untimely death.

Fasting bequeathed his library to the Free Church's school for the poor for public use. There were 590 volumes and included selected works from philosophy, natural history and aesthetics. Borrowers should pay one shilling per week for each book.

In 1790 he had his first attack of gout , which was repeated in 1791. He died at Christmas.

Works

  • Evander og Alcimna (a translation of Gessner's Schäferstück). 1767
  • Pan's feast . 1768
  • Harmonisang. Verdners Liv and Aanders Glæde . 1769
  • Hermione . 1771 (was not listed)
  • Kritisk Journal (together with others) 1773
  • Kritisk Tilskuer (together with others) 1775–1776
  • Provincial Blade . 1773-1781
  • Actierne eller De Rige . 1778
  • Sørgekantate by Jens Boalths død . 1780
  • Provincial Samlinger . 1791.

literature

References and comments

The article is essentially based on Norsk biografisk leksikon . Any other information is shown separately.

  1. ↑ a b c D. Thrap: Fasting, Claus . In: Carl Frederik Bricka (Ed.): Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537-1814. 1st edition. tape 5 : Faaborg – Gersdorff . Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag, Copenhagen 1891, p. 85 (Danish, runeberg.org ).
  2. ^ J. Clausen: Fasting, Claus . In: Christian Blangstrup (Ed.): Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon . 2nd Edition. tape 7 : Elektriske Sporveje – Fiesole . JH Schultz Forlag, Copenhagen 1918, p. 789 (Danish, runeberg.org ).
  3. ↑ a b D. Thrap: Fasting, Claus . In: Carl Frederik Bricka (Ed.): Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537-1814. 1st edition. tape 5 : Faaborg – Gersdorff . Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag, Copenhagen 1891, p. 86 (Danish, runeberg.org ).
  4. ^ "Police Public Prosecutor" (politiaktor) was the prosecutor before a police court (politirett). These courts were established in the 18th century with the police reform in the four diocese capitals and dealt with violations of trade and craftsman privileges, regulations, holiday regulations, etc. They were dissolved with the reform of the criminal procedure of 1887.
  5. ↑ a b D. Thrap: Fasting, Claus . In: Carl Frederik Bricka (Ed.): Dansk biografisk Lexikon. Tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537-1814. 1st edition. tape 5 : Faaborg – Gersdorff . Gyldendalske Boghandels Forlag, Copenhagen 1891, p. 87 (Danish, runeberg.org ).
personal data
SURNAME Fasting, Claus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Norwegian editor, author and critic
DATE OF BIRTH October 29, 1746
PLACE OF BIRTH Mountains
DATE OF DEATH December 25, 1791
Place of death Mountains