Jan Nordby Gretlund, Remembered

Jan Nordby Gretlund (1942-2026), Remembered

Jan Nordby Gretlund passed away on February 21, 2026. On hearing the news, colleagues recalled “an imposing presence—a great scholar who was fiercely loyal to his friends and close colleagues,” “one of the pioneers who breathed life into the university when it began,” and “a splendid host, all-round enthusiast, who was always full of fun.”

However, when he was young, his career seemed to be headed elsewhere. When he was just 19, he traveled around the US, and in 1962 he joined the American army. After basic training, he was posted to West Germany, where he was the only soldier in his unit fluent in German. Before he enrolled at Århus University in 1965, Jan knew a lot about cultural differences; he had a thorough command of American English, and he understood daily life in the United States. This knowledge proved useful when combined with literary criticism and applied to contemporary fiction about the South, which became his specialty. He completed his bachelor's and master’s degrees in English at Århus University, graduating with a gold medal. He received a second master’s degree at the University of Virginia, and he then gained teaching experience in Århus and at the University of South Carolina, before taking a position at Odense University in 1979.

Jan’s expertise developed further during Fulbright grants and sabbaticals at southern universities, notably Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and Mississippi. He not only read contemporary southern authors but also interviewed and became friends with many of them. He corresponded with Walker Percy and other leading figures. In 1994, he defended his dr. phil. at SDU on Eudora Welty. He published four books, lectured widely, organized conferences, and was co-editor or editor of six volumes. He was also one of the founders of the European Southern Studies Forum and an active member of the European Association for American Studies. He brought leading scholars to lecture at SDU, coming from Oslo, Bergen, Uppsala, Cambridge, the Sorbonne, Vienna, Yale, and other American universities. In the classroom, he taught both English and American literature, and he helped prepare the way for the Center for American Studies, established in 1992. As an administrator, Jan was well-organized, plain-spoken, and loyal to students and colleagues. He was a forceful spokesman for the humanities and a constant presence on campus until his retirement. He will long be remembered for his scholarship and passion for literature as well as for lively conversation, humor, and steadfast commitment to international exchange.

May his memory be honored.

David Nye, professor emeritus
Center for American Studies
Department of Culture and Language