 The first phase of his work constitutes rebellious social criticism, and as such was also a revolt against his own privileged family background.In a famous quote, Henrik Pontoppidan mocked the historic latinisation of his own surname Pontoppidan from its original Danish root "Broby" 

In matter-of-fact short stories he mercilessly describes the life of the peasants and country proletarians, with whom he lived in close contact.He was perhaps the first Danish progressive writer to break with an idealised portrayal of farmers.