A History of Denmark

by Knud J.V. Jespersen, Ivan Hill (Translator)

From the Reformation to present day, this book guides the reader through 500 years of wars, territorial losses, domestic upheavals, and changes in thought in Denmark's history. Looking carefully at the development of Danish identity, the author explores whether Danes can be most aptly described as a tribe or a nation. Using new research and original theories, it's the perfect introduction to the fascinating and relatively unknown history of this Scandinavian country.

Genres: History, Denmark, Nonfiction, Historical, European History, Danish

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 2004

Reviews

[Calzean · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very dry analysis of Denmark's history - focused on the politics from 1500. As it was structured along themes, there was a fair bit of repetition and a couple of common themes about why Danes are like they are.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a clunky narrative but its historiography and conversation with the meaning of Danish history is helpful. I wish the title had indicated it only includes the early modern and modern periods. I would have liked some medieval history as well since this was the primary history book I chose to read on my trip to Denmark.

[Matthías Ólafsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat good survey by a respected authority (RIP) on 'Danish history', but its quite subjective and Danocentric when it comes to the Danish conglomerate state that was constructed around the Danish Oldenburg monarchs in the early modern period. I'm aware that its meant as an international introduction to Danish history but it still suffers from unnecessary oversimplifications, and completely skips over its colonial aspects in a very naive way. However, it does have a good demographic overview and good segments on large-scale political and economic changes.

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book that trades a chronological account of history for a much more interesting grand narrative about the culture of Danes and Denmark. This gives the book far more relevance to modern political events as a result, with commentary on nationalism and international policy.

The book is split into domains covering specific areas such as the economy, culture and governance. My personal preference is for this kind of approach which gives a much greater analysis of a country than a simple chronology, but this requires a general understanding of the events of European history in these epochs that the book does not provide. This also builds a picture of themes that run throughout Danish society, forming a cohesive whole in the concluding chapters.

Indeed, it is thanks to this approach that one can easily reflect upon the circumstances in one's own country. The book paints the picture of Denmark as a country that declined as a result of the changing nature of a the world from an international empire to a small homogeneous state at the whims of stronger nearby neighbours and international trends in trade.

I have found this book particularly helpful as I reflect on the challenges that my own country, the United Kingdom faces, as a post-imperial power that seems to be 'threatened' by the forces of globalisation and stronger neighbours.

The only flaw of this book is that it does not truly cover the entirety of Danish history, though this is covered in most other books covering Scandinavia, and its successor countries. This book is otherwise a very rewarding read that reveals a lens to view ones own country rather than simply that of the Danes.

[J.M. Hushour · Rating 1 out of 5]

Something is rotten in Denmark...this book! This work constitutes one of the worst works of history I have ever written, which is sad because I know some cool Danes and they invented Legos. First, the book is organized thematically, not chronologically, which makes for a confusing read that jumps back and forth across five centuries. The bulk of the book is about Danish economics, agriculture, and so on. Danish culture is apparently non-existent in this self-hating Dane's eyes. Hans Christian Andersen mentioned once?! Legos only mentioned once?!?! Content-wise, the book is vacuous. I learned very little about Denmark, which seems to have had a rather rich and interesting history. Instead, the author focuses on ideas about Danish-ness and how their sad-sack performance in the face of more predatory European powers confined them to a destiny of apathy. A terrible book and, unfortunately, the only extant history of Denmark in English.

[Debra Brunk · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Unfortunately one of the few Danish history books written in English, so if your interested in Danish history and don't read Danish, this is pretty much it. I'm not sure if it's the translation, but the book is wordy, dry and repetitive. The author asks an interesting question - whether the Danes are a tribe or a nation - but the rest of the book doesn't really answer this question. The book also comes across as somewhat subjective, which I don't really appreciate in a history book. After living in Denmark almost 3 years, the book connected a few dots for me, but otherwise it was a tough read.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book is only two hundred pages or so, I skimmed a lot of it because it was pretty boring. I guess I'm not that interested in politics, economics, or the state of church in Denmark. A few ideas caught my attention such as the development of the Danish welfare state and a brief history of the monarchy, but even those chapters were pretty dry. Surely a better history is out there somewhere?

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Denmark. I lived there for two years. But this book is a heavily biased, socialized mess from a narrow perspective. Don't waste your time.

Glad I checked it out from the library and didn't actually purchase it.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned some good information about Danish history, but the pace is a bit slow.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the period of 1500-2000 AD, examining the major geographical, economical and political trends that lead to the current Danish social welfare utopia, as well as the pressures it faces with modern globalization and internationalism. If you want Vikings and primitive history, this is not the book for you.

It was hugely interesting to me, as I have ancestors that come from Denmark. It helps me to understand more the time that they lived in and the circumstances of their lives. Also, as a person that skews towards the free market, it helps me to understand what is meant by "Danish socialism" - at least what it means in Denmark, as opposed to when it is invoked in an American setting.

To me, the key difference between the Danish version, and the version that would be implemented in the US, is the sense of mutual obligation. Justice is not just about administering punishment; it is about performing what is owed: that often forgotten word "Duty." My sense in the US is that the social welfare state is much more about reparations and entitlement, than any mutual sense of obligation. Society may have an obligation to help, but society has a related obligation to be as independent as they can manage. And EVERYONE needs to pay. There is no magic line to cross before your income is taxed to contribute to the national pot.

Also, as has been noted, much of Danish unity and social welfare has arisen from a unified tribal identity. Much of the rough edges have been worn off, and Denmark history for the last 150-200 years is a "little brother" role in history: smaller in power and territory than larger neighbors, there has been a strong culture of "go along to get along." Denmark has often sought unity through consensus. They have had internal and external conflicts, like any other nation. Possibly, the author smoothed over those elements in an attempt to smooth the way for his narrative interpretation of how Denmark and Danishness came to be.

Anyway, it was interesting. It started as a library book that became one I had to buy. My own copy is filled with tabs and bookmarks, and will be filled with comments and cross references.

[Tim O'neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviöusly I don’t recommend that you read this over a year and a half like I did. I was gonna read it before goïng to Denmark, and then I was gonna finish it in Denmark, but sharing hotel rooms with kids did not conduce to reading in the dark. Then, after returning home (almost a year ago!), it was low priörity, as you can tell by the number of books I’ve finished in the past year and a half! But I’ve renewed this enough time, so this is the day I finally return it!

But this dœsn’t make it a bad book. It’s dry, for sure, and the relevance to someöne who prolly won’t ever go back to Denmark (just because there’re other places to go—’twas a wonderful vacation!) was low. Reading it afterward actually did make sense in explaining some on the attitudes I saw while I was there. And it also worked just considering the writer’s thesis about when the Danish became the Danish, which is of course an interesting question to consider for anyöne. It speaks pretty well of the book that I did stick to finishing it despite my changing circumstances. Did I enjoy Madagascar: A Short History—th’only comparable book I’ve read—more? Yes, and while it makes a huge difference that I read the whole thing while I was there, that book also covered the whole history instead of narrating the same periöd thematically over and over, which was sometimes confusing, esp. in the conclusion. But I will say that I also tried to read The Northern Lands: Germanic Europe, c.1270-c.1500 before A History of Denmark, and even tho I got about 100 pages in, that one was either way to dry, or it was a work of history for historiäns and thus totally inaccessible.

[Mark Kloha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book for the following reasons:
1. It could have been organized much differently. As it is, the author will cover religion and culture in one chapter, then in the next chapter cover the economics of the same era. The different eras should have been their own chapters covering religion, economics, culture, politics, etc.
2. The author offered far too many opinionated conclusions that are passed off almost as fact.
3. The author on page 175 incorrectly states that Godtfried Christiansen started the LEGO company in the 1930s. Ole Christiansen started the LEGO company in the 1930s as a wooden toy factory. Godtfried, his son, is credited with developing the LEGO plastic bricks - which continued to be made under the LEGO brand name.

This book covers Denmark’s history from 1500 to present. I found Palle Lauring’s “History of Denmark” far more informative - it has more factual explanations of what happened and covers far more of Danish History.

[Mehul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decently approachable/readable overview of about 500 years of Danish history. It’s a tad dry but still interesting, however the final 3 chapters are quite a slog and feel a bit repetitive. I wish that information about the formation of the wall fare state had just been expanded on in the history sections instead of going over everything again in sequence. Several points you’ll hear over and over again, and while I find the beginning rather interesting it really does get hard to keep going by the end. Despite it all I think the early chapters of Religion + General History of Denmark are quite illuminating and it gave me the information I was hoping to get from it.

Six

[John Chancey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers danish history from 1500 to 2000. Interesting story of a Nordic nation who once was large but was slowly whittled down to the small nation it is today. Danish society has morphed a lot over those 500 years but the essence of danishness remained the same - looking out for others to preserve the larger danish society. I want to visit Copenhagen something awful!!!

[Mads Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatively unbiased, succinct, and with patently clear outline so that one might jump around cultural sections of the text and still gain knowledge of different aspects of Danish culture. The “big picture” message of the book being that Danish culture is centered around a very culture-rooted consensus is novel to me as an American, and I think it helps quite a lot to understand Danish people.

[Rick Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting information and history, but the pacing was so slow, and lots of trivia include to the exclusion of getting to the discussion at hand. Interesting, and I learned lots. but in no way would I say I actually enjoyed the book.

[Kris L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome recent history of Denamark!

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Interesting organization by topic areas so that you loop through time using different lenses. Very interesting to learn how agricultural modernization reforms mid-to-late 1800s displaced and impoverished small-holders and contributed to emigration to America.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Limited history of Denmark

This actually a well written book that is focused on the political history of Denmark, not what I was looking for. The title implied a book on the full history of this country, where they came from who they are and what their customs are. Instead it curses on what it means to be 'Danish' in political and social terms and how that consciousness developed.

[Bradley Gearhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different elements of (post 1500 CE) Danish history, culture, geopolitics, and economics are well put from an individualistic perspective but scattered throughout the pages of this non-chronological book which may have been better received by myself if it was less exploratory and repetitive and more narrative.

[Theresa Leone Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed history of Denmark, this book is well written and absorbing. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

[Lysergius · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is awful. The translation is peppered with errors of grammar and spelling to the point where it is unreadable. Would not recommend this book.