The outcome of that wish was an essay,
summarizing Bjornson's life and work, published in "The
International Quarterly," March, 1903. The essay then written
forms the substance of the present publication, although several
additions have been made in the way of translation, anecdote,
and the consideration of Bjornson's later productions. So
small a book as this is, of course, hopelessly inadequate to
make more than the most superficial sort of survey of the
life work of that masterful personality whose recent death is
so heavy a loss to all mankind.
W. M. P.
Chicago, May, 1910.
BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON
1832-1910
Eight years ago, taking a bird's-eye view of the mountain
peaks of contemporary literature, and writing with particular
reference to Bjornson's seventieth birthday, it seemed
proper to make the following remarks about the most famous
European authors then numbered among living men. If one
were asked for the name of the greatest man of letters still
living in the world, the possible claimants to the distinction
would hardly be more than five in number. If it were a
question of poetry alone, Swinburne would have to be named
first, with Carducci for a fairly close second.
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