Bang - Herman Bang

Danish novelist. Born into a distinguished family on the island of Als. His father, a pastor, was mentally ill, and his beautiful mother died young, so he spent his childhood alone and developed an interest in literature at an early age. His works are based on the fear of hereditary mental illness and the end-of-the-century mood caused by the defeat of Germany, and often reminisce about his childhood and his mother. His novel "The Hopeless Generation" (1880) depicts a typical example of the Lost Generation, and this work established his reputation. He is also known for his works "Miss Irene Holm," which depicts a wandering dancer, "By the Way" (1886), "Tine" (1889), and "The White House" (1898). In his later years, he portrayed a fallen artist in "People Without a Homeland" (1906). He collapsed and died during a lecture tour in the United States. Mori Ogai was the first to introduce his short stories to Japan.

[Yamamuro Shizuka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

デンマークの小説家。アルス島の名家の出身。牧師の父は精神に異常をきたし、美貌(びぼう)の母は早世したため、孤独な少年時代を送り、早くから文学に傾倒。作品は精神病遺伝に対する恐怖、対独敗戦による世紀末的気分を基調とし、幼少時代や母の追憶がしばしば主題となる。『希望なき世代』（1880）はロスト・ジェネレーション（失われた世代）の典型を描き、この一作で地位を確立。流浪のダンサーを描いた『イレーネ・ホルム嬢』や、『路傍にて』（1886）、『ティーネ』（1889）、『白い家』（1898）なども知られる。晩年の作『祖国なき人々』（1906）では落魄(らくはく)の芸術家を描く。アメリカ講演旅行中、発作で倒れて没した。日本では森鴎外(おうがい)がいち早く短編を紹介している。

［山室　静］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例