1900-1938 Jacobsen was born in Tórshavn and held a degree (cand. mag.) in history and French. He authored two excellent books on the Faroes’ political relationship with the Nordic Countries and Denmark. He was only 21 years old when he contracted Tuberculosis and was he a patient at sanatoriums for extended periods of his short life. In 1934 he commenced his major work, the novel Barbara, a work of historical fiction.  It was written in Danish and was publish a year after his death. It became an international bestseller and was translated into several languages.