Goldschmidt, Meir Aron

(1819-1887)

   A Danish novelist, short story writer, and journalist, Goldschmidt first became notorious in Danish cultural life as the editor of and main contributor to the satirical weekly journal Corsaren (1840-1846; The Corsair). After traveling abroad Goldschmidt started another journal, Nord og Syd (1847-1859; North and South), which offered facts and opinion about European society and politics.

   Goldschmidt's first novel, En Jøde (1845; tr. AJew, 1852, 1990), tells about a Jewish man who gets engaged to a Christian woman, but who is not strong enough to handle the cultural differences. The short stories in Fortællinger (1846; Stories) also treat the situation of Jews living in Denmark. The three-volume novel Hjemløs (1853-1857; tr. Homeless, 1861) represents a further development of the theme of the outsider. The protagonist ofHjemløs has failed the woman he was supposed to marry and as a result has become a wanderer. He spends the rest of his life suffering and trying to find peace, for there is retribution in the world, and he must pay the price for what he has done.

   After Goldschmidt moved to London and Paris, he published three volumes of Fortællinger og Skildringer (1863-1865; Stories and Sketches). The first two volumes consist of stories, but the third one contains the novel Arvingen (The Heir), which is reminiscent of Hjemløs. Goldschmidt's best novel is Ravnen (1867; The Raven), a combination of realistic narrative and some folklore motifs. It represents a further development of his theory of retribution. Goldschmidt also published two volumes of short stories entitled Smaa Fortællinger (1868-1869; Small Stories), the short story volume Kjærligh-edshistorier fra mange Lande 1867; Love Stories from Many Countries), and several other volumes of prose.