Blüthen der Jugendfahrt

by Harro Harring

Copenhagen: Chr. H. Noer, 1821

[2] p., p. VII, [1], 220, [2] p. | 210 x 125 mm

First edition of the Frisian freedom fighter’s first book, a collection of poetry whose title might translate as Blossoms of a Young Traveler. It’s an apt title. Harring muses on his journeys, his poetry often grounded in places close to home—Denmark and Germany—but ranging as far afield as Norway and Switzerland. Also as the title promises, the idea of youth permeates the entirety. There’s much on art, too (p. 20: “Art—it is divine; not idle trumpery!”), with poems like “The Dresden Artists’ Society” and “Artist’s Youth,” and another on Raphael’s Sistine Madonna. And we get to see some of the revolutionary fervor that, along with travel, came to define Harring’s life. “The word is free, the thought is free—and freedom breaks every bond in two,” he writes in his untitled introductory poem. “Sing—and look the world in the face—and pay no heed to the enemy’s threats!” “He wrote romantically, pathetically, tenderly and brutally, at the pulse of his age. The Bavarian king applauded him. A poet-turned-rebel who loved the world but not himself” (Mathews). ¶ Harring trained as an artist, was a prolific writer, and traveled constantly. By the age of 30, he had spent time in Germany and Denmark, of course, but also Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Prague, Rome, and Greece, where he fought in the War of Independence in 1821. He moved to France after being expelled from Germany, to London (fought in a duel) after being expelled from Switzerland, his revolutionary tendencies often inviting the opprobrium of officials who took exception to his stoking of populist anger. “Harro Harring was a child of his time, driven by a society that didn’t trust itself and shaped by citizens who were required to live as subjects” (Mathews). He later lived in Brazil (where he hoped to found the United States of South America), then the United States. He returned to Germany for the Revolutions of 1848. You’ll be unsurprised to learn he was banished the following year. He moved to Oslo, from where he was also banished the following year, after whipping up anti-monarchy sentiment. He bounced back to Copenhagen and London, Germany again (arrested), on to Rio Janeiro, and finally back to Britain. He died in London in 1870, poisoned by phosphorus scraped from matchheads. His was a life less ordinary, that of a restless abolitionist who fought endlessly for the oppressed. ¶ Rare. We find just a few copies in Europe, none in North America, and no other copies recorded at auction.

PROVENANCE: Inscriptions on the title page, one dated Copenhagen 1867 and signed Harro, another the signature of Peter Lorenzen, 1868. We can't confirm whether or not this is Harring's handwriting, though it seems likely. Either way, we suspect this was a presentation copy to Lorenzen, pastor in Emmelsbull, who may have known Harro’s brother Martin (if not Harro himself), a fellow pastor not far south in Sehestedt.

CONDITION: Publisher’s original printed paper wrappers, completely untrimmed, a few leaves unopened. ¶ Lacking two preliminary leaves, at least one of these with the start of the table of contents; text block split into four pieces; foxed throughout; wrappers worn and with tape stains. Like its author, this book has been through the wringer.

REFERENCES: Peter Mathews, Harro Harring: Rebell der Freiheit (Europa, 2017), “Wer war dieser Harro Harring?” (unpaginated e-book); Königlich-Dänischer Hof- und Staats-Calender für das Jahr 1839, col. 459-460 (for Peter Lorenzen and Martin Harring)

Item #441