''Letters from Hell'' () is a didactic

Christian novel Christian novels are a genre of novels in the tradition of Christian literature, written as a work of fiction focusing on religious events and worldviews. The tradition of Christian fiction Christian novels are works of imaginative literature dr ...

by the Danish priest and author

Valdemar Adolph Thisted Valdemar Adolph Thisted (28 February 1815 – 14 October 1887) was a Danish writer, translator and priest. His works include novels, travelogues, romantic dramas and theological polemics. The writings published during his time as a pastor caused a ...

(1815–1887), The work was published in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

in 1866 and went through 12 editions in its first year. The setting of the novel is

Hell In religion and folklore, hell is a location or state in the afterlife in which souls are subjected to punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history sometimes depict hells as eternal destinations, such as Christianity and I ...

, a typical

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

setting.

Plot summary

The narrator, Otto, who has died in the prime of life, relates the torments and regrets that are a consequence of the self-centred and dissipated life he led in the world. He also describes the fates of other lost souls who inhabit

, concluding with the arrival in Hell of the narrator's mother. Some of the book's descriptions of Hell are reminiscent of

Emanuel Swedenborg Emanuel Swedenborg (; ; born Emanuel Swedberg; (29 January 168829 March 1772) was a Swedish polymath; scientist, engineer, astronomer, anatomist, Christian theologian, philosopher, and mysticism, mystic. He became best known for his book on the ...

's '' Heaven and Hell''.

Translations

An English edition of ''Letters from Hell'' appeared in 1866, under the pseudonym of M Rowel. The translator was Rev. Mordaunt Roger Barnard. The book's title caused it to be banned by Mudie's circulating library. ''Letters from Hell'' went through several editions in the 19th century, one of which (1884) contained a preface by

George MacDonald George MacDonald (10 December 1824 – 18 September 1905) was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister. He became a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow-writer Lewis Carrol ...

. Thisted's name does not appear in these editions and the translation is attributed to LWJS. In a 1911 edition, the translator is identified as Julie Sutter.

Reception

C. S. Lewis Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer, literary scholar and Anglican lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Magdalen College, Oxford (1925–1954), and Magdalen ...

had read ''Letters from Hell'' and something of its influence may be detected in ''

The Screwtape Letters ''The Screwtape Letters'' is a Christian apologetic novel by C. S. Lewis and dedicated to J. R. R. Tolkien. It is written in a satirical, epistolary style and, while it is fictional in format, the plot and characters are used to address Chris ...

''.

Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogue (literature), travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Andersen's fai ...

was absorbed by the book and found details reminiscent of his own fairy-tales."The Life of Hans Christian Andersen. Day By Day", by Johan de Mylius
/ref>

References

External links

see Letters from Hell
''Letters from Hell'' Vol 1

''Letters from Hell'' Vol 2

''Letters from Hell'' Complete
* 1866 novels 1866 fantasy novels Christian novels Epistolary novels Novels set in hell {{epistolary-novel-stub