Josef Petersen

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Josef Petersen (16 September, 1881–22 November, 1973) was Danish author, known for many novels with historical, often Antique or Medieval motifs written from 1910 to 1949.

Josef Peterson was the son of a vicar and was a maternal grandson of the Norwegian poet Johann Sebastian Welhaven. Petersen who worked as a journalist and foreign correspondent has never been fully recognized by Danish literary historians though his work was respected by contemporary critics for its knowledge of and identifying with Antique cultures. His best known book is Kongeofret (1923, i.e. The Royal Sacrifice) with Oriental motifs, moreover his Columbus novel En Verden stiger af Havet (1935, i. e. A World Rises of the Sea) must also be mentioned.

It was noted, Petersen took a special interest in athletics and sport, as a curiosity it might be mentioned that he was a participant in the last Danish duel 1913. As the only Danish writer he thrice won Olympic silver medals of art for his prose-lyric tales with Antique Greek athletic motives Euryale (1924), Argonauterne (Eng. The Argonauts) (1932) and Den Olympiske Mester (eng. The Olympic Champion) (1948).