The Core of Learning presents the philosophical framework of N.F.S. Grundtvig’s educational, poetic, theological, and political writings. In each of these fields he made a major contribution to the formation of modern Denmark. He situates humanity in the wider background of creation and nature, and in his alternative programme of enlightenment he focuses on the core and advance of Learning in the history of human civilization, and the role of emotions for all philosophical reflection. As part of its agenda to digitalise and translate Grundtvig’s vast output, the Grundtvig Study Centre at Aarhus University is pleased to publish this fifth volume in the series, ‘N.F.S. Grundtvig: Works in English’. Volume 1, The School for Life (2011), contains Grundtvig’s major writings on education, while Volume 2, Living Wellsprings (2015) contains a selection of his hymns, songs, and poems. Volume 3, Human Comes First (2018) contains articles and sermons relating to Grundtvig’s Christian theology, and Volume 4, The Common Good (2019) deals with his historical and political ideas. Recordings by the editor of all the introductions and texts are available free online at href=www.unipress.dk>www.unipress.dk

Of the five books in the series N.F.S. Grundtvig. Works in English, this fourth volume on Grundtvig as a politician and contemporary historian is perhaps the most surprising. He is best known globally as the founding father of the 'People's High School', with his emphasis on lifelong learning and the living word in interactive conversation. In Denmark his next greatest achievement is his hymn-writing and song-writing. Few think of Grundtvig as a politician. In public discourse he is linked to Nordic mythology and church matters, rather than to parliamentary democracy or contemporary history. However, Grundtvig was a historian and a politician. His historical interests were the driving force of his entry into public politics, as is demonstrated by the texts in this volume.

Contents: 1. The Christian Church and the People's Culture (1825-56) 12 essays and articles, including Grundtvig's reflections on his trial for libel and his promotion of freedom in the Church. 2.Basic Christian Teachings (1855-61) 15 commentaries on the Christian faith, including one on The Lord's Prayer and another on Faith, Hope, and Love. 3.Sermons for the Church Year (1837-55) 14 sermons, including the 3 Christian Festivals, the last 3 sermons before his death, and a sermon praising Mary and Joseph for dragging the 12-year-old Jesus home from the Temple, where the rabbis would have fed him with learning but not life. 4.Letters and Speeches (1822-63) including seven letters, two of which are from England, where Grundtvig fumes over being locked out of morning worship at St. Paul's Cathedral by a policeman for coming late to the service! Also included are his two eulogies to his late wives.

Book & CD. N F S Grundtvig (1783-1872) produced a major body of work in the fields of theology, education, literature, politics, and history. He was also a poet, a hymn-writer, and a translator. In particular, however, it is his educational writings that over the years have attracted international attention -- from the USA in the west to Japan in the east. In recognition of his influence the European Union called its adult education project 'the Grundtvig programme'. As part of its agenda to digitalise and translate some of this vast output, the Grundtvig Study Centre at the University of Aarhus is pleased to publish this broad selection of Grundtvig's writings on education in a completely new translation. The texts vary in form from poems and songs to articles in periodicals, introductions to books, an open letter to the Norwegians and a private letter to the King of Denmark. These texts, taken together, will provide a solid basis for international scholars without knowledge of Danish to be able to work closely with Grundtvig's ideas on education for the people. The accompanying CD (MP3 format) includes the texts read by Edward Broadbridge and the introductions by Clay Warren.