Ludvig Holberg, the "Molière of the North", wrote 33 Danish comedies between 1722 and 1753 — 15 of them ("the foundation for the entire Danish theatre") in a span of less than 18 months in 1722 and early 1723.

In his long career, nominally in education, Holberg produced works in philosophy, law, finance, and history; essays, satirical verse, biographies, memoirs, and an early science fiction utopia. However, his comedies have brought him the widest and most lasting acclaim. Despite this, no English translations of Holberg's comedies were made during his lifetime, and only 4 in the 19th century. In the 20th century many translations appeared (including 14 published by The American-Scandinavian Foundation). Now at least 39 English translations are available representing 20 of Holberg's 33 comedies. Jeppe on the Hill — his "most popular and most discussed play" — is also the most frequently translated, followed by Erasmus Montanus.

Translations Key

Danish Title — The original play that serves as the basis of the English text. English Title — The title of the English text, as it appears in the given translation. Because one Danish title may be published under various English titles, sorting by this column is not a reliable way to group all translations of a particular original together; to do so, sort on Danish Title. Year — The year of the translation's first publication. Some translations may have been written or produced earlier than this date, and some have been republished subsequently, but this is not noted here. Publication — The publication in which the translation first appeared. These short titles are linked to their full bibliographic entries.

Table

Danish Title English Title Year Translator Publication NotesMester Gert Westphaler The Babbling Barber 1827 M. Corbett 1 act; reduced by Holberg himself from its original 5 acts.Erasmus Montanus eller Rasmus Berg Erasmus Montanus 1871 Peter Toft 5 acts.Erasmus Montanus eller Rasmus Berg Erasmus Montanus, or Rasmus Berg 1885 T. Weber 5 acts.Den Politiske Kandestøber The Blue-apron Statesman 1885 T. Weber 5 acts.Jeppe på bjerget eller den forvandlede Bonde Jeppe on the Hill, or The Transformed Peasant 1906 Waldemar Westergaard & Martin B. Ruud 5 acts.Den Stundesløse Scatterbrains 1912 H. W. L. Hime 3 acts.Diderich Menschenskraek Captain Bombastes Thunderton 1912 H. W. L. Hime 1 act. Translated as 3 acts.Henrich og Pernille Henry and Pernilla 1912 H. W. L. Hime 3 acts.Den Politiske Kandestøber The Political Tinker 1914 Oscar James Campbell & Frederick Schenck 5 acts.Jeppe på bjerget eller den forvandlede Bonde Jeppe of the Hill 1914 Oscar James Campbell & Frederick Schenck 5 acts.Erasmus Montanus eller Rasmus Berg Erasmus Montanus 1914 Oscar James Campbell & Frederick Schenck 5 acts.Jeppe på bjerget eller den forvandlede Bonde Jeppe of the Hill 1933 M. Jagendorf 5 acts.Den vægelsindede The Weathercock 1946 Henry Alexander 3 acts.Den Stundesløse The Fussy Man 1946 Henry Alexander 3 acts.Mascarade Masquerades 1946 Henry Alexander 3 acts.De Usynlige The Masked Ladies 1946 Henry Alexander 3 acts.Mester Gert Westphaler The Talkative Barber 1950 Henry Alexander 1 act; reduced by Holberg himself from its original 5 acts.Det Arabiske Pulver The Arabian Powder 1950 Henry Alexander 1 act.Julestuen The Christmas Party 1950 Henry Alexander 1 act.Diderich Menschenskraek Diderich the Terrible 1950 Henry Alexander 1 act.Den pantsatte Bondedreng The Peasant in Pawn 1950 Henry Alexander 3 acts. Translated as 1 act.Den Forvandlede Brudgom The Changed Bridegroom 1950 Henry Alexander 1 act.Sganarels Rejse til det philosophiske Land Sganarel's Journey to the Land of the Philosophers 1950 Henry Alexander 1 act.Jeppe på bjerget eller den forvandlede Bonde The Transformed Peasant 1957 Reginald Spink 5 acts. Translated as 3 acts.Det Arabiske Pulver The Arabian Powder 1957 Reginald Spink 1 act.Kildereisen The Healing Spring 1957 Reginald Spink 3 acts. Translated as a prologue & 1 act.Erasmus Montanus eller Rasmus Berg Erasmus Montanus 1989 Petter Næss 5 acts.Den Politiske Kandestøber The Political Tinker 1990 Gerald S. Argetsinger & Sven Hakon Rossel 5 acts.Jean de France eller Hans Frandsen Jean de France; or, Hans Frandsen 1990 Gerald S. Argetsinger & Sven Hakon Rossel 5 acts.Jeppe på bjerget eller den forvandlede Bonde Jeppe of the Hill; or, The Transformed Peasant 1990 Gerald S. Argetsinger & Sven Hakon Rossel 5 acts.Ulysses von Ithacia Ulysses von Ithacia; or, A German Comedy 1990 Gerald S. Argetsinger & Sven Hakon Rossel 5 acts.Erasmus Montanus eller Rasmus Berg Erasmus Montanus; or, Rasmus Berg 1990 Gerald S. Argetsinger & Sven Hakon Rossel 5 acts.Julestuen The Christmas Party 1990 Gerald S. Argetsinger & Sven Hakon Rossel 1 act.Pernilles korte Frøkenstand Pernille's Brief Experience as a Lady 1990 Gerald S. Argetsinger & Sven Hakon Rossel 3 acts.Den Danske Comoedies Liigbegængelse The Burial of Danish Comedy, with Thalia's Farewell Speech 1990 Gerald S. Argetsinger & Sven Hakon Rossel 1 act.Jeppe på bjerget eller den forvandlede Bonde Jeppe of the Hill 1999 Michael Leverson Meyer 5 acts.Den Stundesløse The Scatterbrain 1999 Michael Leverson Meyer 3 acts.Jeppe på bjerget eller den forvandlede Bonde Jeppe of the Hill 2020 Bent Holm & Gaye Kynoch 5 acts.Ulysses von Ithacia Ulysses von Ithacia 2020 Bent Holm & Gaye Kynoch 5 acts.Erasmus Montanus eller Rasmus Berg Erasmus Montanus 2022 Bent Holm & Gaye Kynoch 5 acts.Hekseri eller Blind alarm Witchcraft, or False Alarm 2022 Bent Holm & Gaye Kynoch 5 acts.

Notes

English translations

Drama collections

Individual dramas

Other works

References