Runeberg, John Ludvig

roo'ne-berg, John Ludvig (1804-1877), a Swedish poet. He was a native of Finland, but, as he wrote in the Swedish language, he is counted as a Swedish poet. Runeberg was the son of a poor merchant captain. He attended school at Wasa and then went to the University of Abo, where he gave private lessons to pay his expenses. His first volume of poems was published in 1830. It comprises a number of lyrics and one long poem, Nights of Jealousy. He was about this time appointed docent at the university now located at Helsingfors, Abo having been burned. He was founder and editor of a successful journal, Helsingfors Morganblad. In 1837 he accepted the position of lector at the gymnasium in Borga, where he subsequently resided. Runeberg published several volumes of poems, and others were published after his death. An epic, Elgskyttarne (The Elk Hunters), and Julqvallen (Christmas Eve) are among them. As a poet Runeberg's rank is high. His verse is strong and in many instances solemn. Something of the picturesque but melancholy wildness of his native land seems to have crept into his poetry, which shows also deep feeling for the sufferings and the wrongs of his own people. Certain critics mention Runeberg's as the greatest name in Swedish literature.