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Olof von Dalin -
Public Debater, Historian,
Renewer of the Swedish Language
Life and Career
Olof Dalin was a vicar's son, born in 1708 in Vinberg, Halland,
a province that had been part of Sweden only since 1645. After
studies at the University of Lund, Dalin was employed as a
private tutor in a noble family in Stockholm. His literary
talents soon opened the doors to the leading circles of the
capital, including the Royal Court.
Dalin made a remarkable career. In 1737 he became Royal Librarian.
He was a member of royal academies and was appointed National
Historiographer. In 1750 he became tutor to Gustav, the hereditary
prince, and the year after he was raised to the nobility and
given the name "von Dalin".
Six years later Dalin was involved in an attempted coup d'état
in order to increase the power of the king. He was banished
from court for a few years, but came back, and shortly before
his death in 1763, he was appointed Court Chancellor.
Little is known about Dalin's private life and personality.
It was his writing that made him popular. As a person he was
considered courteous and polite, but rather quiet. There is
no evidence of any love affairs and he never married.
Literary Works
At the age of 24, Dalin made success with a weekly paper,
Then Swänska Argus (The Swedish Argus). Dalin
wrote, translated or adapted, most articles himself, covering
a wide range of topics and introducing the ideas of the Enlightenment.
He criticized everything narrow-minded or stupid and his satire
was both elegant and biting. Dalin was the first Swedish writer
to produce a light, conversational prose, and his Argus marks
the beginning of a new period in Swedish language history.
For a decade, Dalin took a very active part in the vivid
political debate. In Sagan om Hästen (The Tale
of the Horse), a satirical allegory narrated like a folk-tale,
he tells the story of the Swedish nation and its rulers during
two centuries. But he also wrote pamphlets, poems and songs,
advocating peace and unity, independence of foreign powers
and a strong monarchy.
In the late 1730's Dalin wrote plays for the theatre, inspired
by French dramas and much admired by his contemporaries.
As a poet, Dalin was versatile. He mastered many genres and
metres and skilfully concealed political or satirical messages
in innocent-looking poems. Much of his poetry was occasional
verse, sometimes illustrated with his own drawings, sometimes
sung to existing tunes or set to music. He also wrote some
longer epic poems.
Dalin started publishing his Swedish history, Svea Rikes
Historia, in 1747. He died before this work was complete.
His critical approach, avoiding myths and learning from other
scientists, as well as his fluent style were surprisingly
modern.
(From Ingemar Carlsson: Olof von Dalin - samhällsdebattör,
historiker, språkförnyare (1997). Summary
in English, abridged for this homepage)
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