Aristocratic Universe of Karen Blixen

Destiny and the Denial of Fate

By: Frantz Leander Hansen

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Paperback | 1 June 2003

At a Glance

Paperback
196 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.5 x 15 x 1

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$84.25

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Karen Blixen's works are explored in the light of a passionate insistence on living out this double nature of the divine and the demonic. The "aristocratic" is examined as her depiction of a conduct of life that is faithful to destiny: The aristocratic viewpoint is in tune with eternity and places no obstructive morality between self and life. Vitality has its source in direct access to the ocean of inexhaustible opportunities with which life presents us. The "world" in her novel Out of Africa, for example, plays a key role as the consummate illustration of an aristocratic culture. The aesthetic guidelines for literary form (as well as art) as advocated by Karen Blixen are discussed, and her view of art is similarly defined and explained as "aristocratic". Her private correspondence is drawn upon to shed new light on her life and work. The Aristocratic Universe of Karen Blixen explores the confrontation between the different cultures and environments which are seen to limit and censure natural behavior while at the same time imposing upon humankind unnecessary notions of sin and guilt. Analysis of her stories (especially Babette's Feast) and of her world view show how Karen Blixen maps out hostility to destiny - this being a violation of Creation, which is viewed as both divine and demonic. Photographs and color pictures of Blixen's art work are also included.

Industry Reviews

From a review of the Danish edition: "Original and essential... exquisite and noble, Babette and the Aristocratic Universe is simply one of the best all-round presentations of Karen Blixen's work." --Professor S?ren Schou, Weekendavisen

"A philosophical center gives weight to the author's investigations. An international world of reference is also amply demonstrated in connections to the Bible, the Koran, Tristram Shandy, E.T.A. Hoffmann, Wuthering Heights, Crime and Punishment, Heart of Darkness, and Joyce's story "The Dead..". The discussions of "Babette's Feast" are especially informative... Highly recommended." --Choice

"Extremely interesting . . . excellent . . . A 'must read' for anyone planning a foray into Blixen scholarship." --Professor Susan Brantly, Scandinavian Studies

"This book offers both fresh and original viewpoints, and provides new aspects for further reflection." --Annelies van Hees, University of Amsterdam, author of The Ambivalent Venus: Women in Isak Dinesen's Tales, TijdSchrift voor Skandinavistiek

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List of Illustrations	p. vii
Acknowledgements	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Karen Blixen's Works
Truth and Creation--Early writing and painting	p. 7
Encounter with the Primary--Accounts of Africa	p. 12
Fantastical Transformation--Seven Gothic Tales	p. 13
Aristocratic Conduct of Life and Bourgeois Lifelessness--Winter's Tales	p. 20
Verdict on Conscience--The Angelic Avengers	p. 30
Childlike Wealth--"The Ghost Horses"	p. 33
Origin and Ambiguity--Last Tales	p. 36
A Preliminary Look at Anecdotes of Destiny	p. 38
Art and Reality--Ehrengard	p. 39
Love and Ideals--Essays	p. 40
Dialogue and Responsibility--Karen Blixen in Denmark: Letters, 1931-1962	p. 41
When Destiny Comes Calling
Prelude	p. 45
The Aristocratic Art
The twofold nature of the tale	p. 46
Silence and statement	p. 48
The artist and freedom	p. 50
Life-giving narrative	p. 51
Fidelity to the artistic nature	p. 52
The immutable power of fiction	p. 55
Denial of Fate--"Babette's Feast"
Layers and episodes	p. 61
Heavenly love and blazing passion	p. 63
The taming of Babette	p. 69
Kaaba and the cornerstone	p. 72
The diabolical claim	p. 74
The serpent in Berlevaag	p. 76
Armament and witches' Sabbath	p. 79
The moment of absolution	p. 84
"Babette's Feast" and "The Dead"	p. 87
Vanity and mortality: Loewenhielm	p. 88
The reckoning	p. 93
Babette and Pellegrina	p. 96
Liberation of Destiny--"The Ring"
Outline	p. 97
On the threshold	p. 99
Marriage in the forest	p. 102
Lea and Lise	p. 110
Life and Tale
Incentive and Repression--Familial influence	p. 115
Light and Darkness in Africa	p. 122
Displacement and Reflection in Denmark	p. 127
Conclusion	p. 138
Notes	p. 144
Published Works by Karen Blixen	p. 156
Selected Bibliography	p. 157
Index	p. 159
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Aristocratic Universe of Karen Blixen

Destiny and the Denial of Fate

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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