Josef Petersen
Josef Petersen was a Danish author, known for many novels with historical motifs, often ancient or medieval, written from 1910 to 1949.
Josef Peterson was the son of a vicar and was a maternal grandson of the Norwegian poet Johann Sebastian Welhaven. Petersen, who worked as a journalist and foreign correspondent, has never been fully recognized by Danish literary historians, though his work was respected by contemporary critics for its knowledge of and identifying with ancient cultures. His best known book is Kongeofret with Asian motifs, and his Columbus novel En Verden stiger af Havet is also notable.
Petersen took a special interest in athletics and sport. He was a participant in the last Danish duel in 1913. He won three silver Olympic medals in art for his prose-lyric tales with Ancient Greek athletic themes: "Euryale", "Argonauterne" and "Den Olympiske Mester" .
