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Thomas Bredsdorff

b. 1937

Danish literary scholar and critic

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About Thomas Bredsdorff

Born 1937. Thomas Bredsdorff is a Danish literary historian, literary critic, university teacher, writer, literary scholar and journalist.

Thomas Bredsdorff (born 1 April 1937 in Silkeborg) is a Danish literary scholar and critic.

He received a Doctor of Philosophy in 1976 from the University of Copenhagen, where he was professor of Nordic literature from 1978 to 2004. He has written about books and culture for the Danish newspaper Politiken since 1965. He worked for Kristeligt Dagblad from 1959-1964. His books and articles are aimed at both academics and the general public.

Historically, Thomas Bredsdorff researched literature from the 13th through 20th centuries, but mainly focused on 18th-century literature, on which he wrote a thesis (, 1976) and which he later published as the dissertation (2004).

He has been a guest lecturer and visiting professor at many universities abroad, including the University of California, Berkeley in 2005.

Honors and awards

2001 University of Lund Honorary Doctorate 2001 Order of the Dannebrog Knight 1st Class 2015 Swedish Academy Nordic Prize

Select works 1971 1979 (in Swedish 1981) 1987 1991 (in Swedish 1991) 2006 2011 2013

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Important facts

Born
1937, Silkeborg
Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Copenhagen
Employers
University of Copenhagen
Awards
Søren Gyldendal Prize; Swedish Academy Nordic Prize; Knight of the 1st Class of the Order of the Dannebrog; Georg Brandes Award; Holberg Medal; Honorary doctorate of Lund University

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Thomas Bredsdorff's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Thomas Bredsdorff?

Danish literary scholar and critic

When was Thomas Bredsdorff born?

Thomas Bredsdorff was born in 1937 in Silkeborg.

What is Thomas Bredsdorff's occupation?

Thomas Bredsdorff is a literary historian, literary critic, university teacher, writer, literary scholar and journalist.

What nationality is Thomas Bredsdorff?

Thomas Bredsdorff is Danish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Thomas Bredsdorff

· Wikidata: Q2422644

· DBpedia: Thomas Bredsdorff

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Bredsdorff. https://biography.guide/thomas-bredsdorff/

MLA: "Thomas Bredsdorff." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-bredsdorff/.

Chicago: "Thomas Bredsdorff." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-bredsdorff/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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