Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen was a Faroese writer. He has a distinct place in Scandinavian literature, as he is the only Faroese writer to achieve international best-seller status. This status derives from his sole novel, Barbara: Roman, which has the added cachet of being one of the few Scandinavian novels to be translated twice into English within the space of fifty years. The novel was translated into five other languages shortly after the first edition in the Danish language. It was also adapted as a motion picture directed by Nils Malmros in 1997.
Stamp of Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen
Faroe Islands writers William Heinesen and Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen, 1918 (both at the age of 18)
The big four of Faroese literature. From left to right: Janus Djurhuus, Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen, William Heinesen and Hans Andreas Djurhuus, 1924
Barbara is a 1997 Danish drama film directed by Nils Malmros and stars Anneke von der Lippe and Lars Simonsen. Adapted from the classic Faroese novel by writer Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen, the film is about a minister in the 18th century who is captivated by the overt sexuality of a promiscuous woman and marries her. Set in the Faroe Islands, the film was Malmros' first diversion from his usual subject of adolescents in Århus, and his own experiences.
DVD release cover