HERTZ, HENRIK (?1797-187o), Danish poet, was born of Jewish parents in Copenhagen on Aug. 25, 1797 or 1798. In 1826 27 two plays of his were produced, Mr. Burchardt and his Family and Love and Policy; in 1828 followed the comedy of Flytteda gen. Amor's Strokes of Genius, a comedy in rhymed verse (183o), and the anonymous Gengangerbrevene (183o) made his reputation. These "Letters from a Ghost" purported to be writ ten by Baggesen who had died four years before ; the book was written in defence of J. L. Heiberg (q.v.) and was full of satirical humour and fine critical insight. In 1832 he published a didactic poem, Nature and Art, and Four Poetical Epistles. In 1836 his comedy of The Savings ,Sank enjoyed a great success. He gave the full measure of his genius in the romantic national drama of Svend Dyrings Hus (1837), a beautiful and original piece. His other important plays are the historical tragedy Valdemar Atter dag (1839) ; the lyrical drama Kong Rene's Datter (1845), which was translated into almost every European language ; the tragedy of Ninon (1848) ; the romantic comedy of Tonietta (1849) ; A Sacrifice (18J3); The Youngest (1854). His lyrical poems ap peared in successive collections, dated 183 2, 184o and From 1858 to 1859 he edited a literary journal entitled Weekly Leaves. His last drama, Three Days in Padua, was produced in 1869. He died on Feb. 2 5, 18 7 0.
Hertz is one of the first of Danish lyrical poets. His poems are full of colour and passion, his versification has more witchcraft in it than any other poet's of his age, and his style is grace itself. He has little or nothing of Scandinavian local colour, and succeeds best when he is describing the scenery or the emotions of the glowing south.