Holberg in Context

Abstract

A prolific and versatile writer, Ludvig Holberg has long been the subject of intense scholarly debate about the identity of his thought and the best way of interpreting his works. What, in particular, has muddied the waters is his use of multifarious textual techniques and conventions, including the use of a broad array of literary genres, a plurality of voices, and diverse literary, historical, and intellectual sources. Engaging, critically, with current contextualist scholarship, this article focuses on what intellectual history can bring to the study of Holberg. Hence, as the article aims to show, thinking in a particular way about the context of Holberg’s works, that is, in conjunction with the languages and personae that inhabit his writings, may help us to better understand the textual conventions and techniques that he employed in his writings, thereby illuminating his identity as a writer.