The Copenhagen Trilogy
.png) 2019 Penguin Classics covers | |
| |
| Author | Tove Ditlevsen |
|---|---|
| Translator | |
| Country | Denmark |
| Language | Danish |
| Discipline | Memoir |
| Published | 1967–1971 |
The Copenhagen Trilogy is a series of memoirs by Danish author Tove Ditlevsen. The books were first released in Denmark between 1967 and 1971 under the titles Childhood (Danish: Barndom), Youth (Danish: Ungdom) and Dependency (Danish: Gift — Gift is the Danish word for both the adjective "married" and the noun "poison"). The first two volumes were translated by Tiina Nunnally and issued in 1985 by the feminist publisher Seal Press, under the title Early Spring. In 2019 the complete trilogy, with the third part translated by Michael Favala Goldman, was published as three individual books by Penguin Classics in the UK under the titles Childhood, Youth and Dependency. The memoirs were collectively called The Copenhagen Trilogy.
Reception
[edit]The reissue of the memoirs in English was welcomed with critical praise. According to Book Marks, the series received a "rave" consensus, based on twenty-seven critic reviews: twenty-three "rave" and four "positive".[1] Globally, Complete Review on the review consensus for volume one "Very impressed".[2] Globally, Complete Review on the review consensus for volume two "Very impressed".[3] Globally, Complete Review on the review consensus for volume three "Very impressed, and this one the most powerful of the three volumes".[4][5][6][7]
The Guardian reviewed the series twice, calling it a "mordant, vibrantly confessional autobiographical work".[8] A second review praised it as "raw and poignant" and compared the memoirs to Janet Frame's autobiographical trilogy An Angel at My Table.[9] The Spectator called the trilogy "sharp, tough and tender".[10] The trilogy was selected for the New York Times Book Review's "10 Best Books of 2021" list.[11] In 2024, the New York Times ranked it #71 of the best 100 books of the 21st century.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Copenhagen Trilogy". Book Marks. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
- ^ "Childhood". Complete Review. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ "Youth". Complete Review. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ "Dependency". Complete Review. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ "The Copenhagen Trilogy". Bookmarks. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "Childhood Reviews". Books in the Media. Archived from the original on 14 Aug 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Childhood". Bibliosurf (in French). 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
- ^ Jensen, Liz. "The Copenhagen Trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen review – confessions of a literary outsider". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Preston, Alex. "Childhood/Youth/Dependency review – memoirs of art and addiction". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Tonkin, Boyd. "In praise of Tove Ditlevsen — the greatest Danish writer you've never heard of". The Spectator. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "The 10 Best Books of 2021". The New York Times. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century". The New York Times. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.