Condition of Secrecy
AUTHOR | Christensen, Inger; Nied, Susanna |
PUBLISHER | New Directions Publishing Corporation (11/27/2018) |
PRODUCT TYPE | Paperback (Paperback) |
Description
The Condition of Secrecy is a poignant collection of essays by Inger Christensen, widely regarded as one of the most influential Scandinavian writers of the twentieth century. As The New York Times proclaimed, "Despite the rigorous structure that undergirds her work--or more likely, because of it--Ms. Christensen's style is lyrical, even playful." The same could be said of Christensen's essays. Here, she formulates with increasing clarity the basis of her approach to writing, and provides insights into how she composed specific poetry volumes. Some essays are autobiographical (with memories of Christensen's school years during the Nazi occupation of Denmark), and others are political, touching on the Cold War and Chernobyl. The Condition of Secrecy also covers the Ars Poetica of Lu Chi (261-303 CE); William Blake and Isaac Newton; and such topics as randomness as a universal force and the role of the writer as an agent of social change. The Condition of Secrecy confirms that Inger Christensen is "a true singer of the syllables" (C. D. Wright), and "a formalist who makes her own rules, then turns the game around with another rule" (Eliot Weinberger).
Show More
Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13:
9780811228114
ISBN-10:
0811228118
Binding:
Paperback or Softback (Trade Paperback (Us))
Content Language:
English
More Product Details
Page Count:
160
Carton Quantity:
30
Product Dimensions:
5.20 x 0.30 x 7.90 inches
Weight:
0.30 pound(s)
Feature Codes:
Bibliography,
Index,
Price on Product
Country of Origin:
US
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Literary Collections | European - Scandinavian
Literary Collections | Essays
Literary Collections | Women Authors
Dewey Decimal:
839.814
Library of Congress Control Number:
2018021516
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
publisher marketing
The Condition of Secrecy is a poignant collection of essays by Inger Christensen, widely regarded as one of the most influential Scandinavian writers of the twentieth century. As The New York Times proclaimed, "Despite the rigorous structure that undergirds her work--or more likely, because of it--Ms. Christensen's style is lyrical, even playful." The same could be said of Christensen's essays. Here, she formulates with increasing clarity the basis of her approach to writing, and provides insights into how she composed specific poetry volumes. Some essays are autobiographical (with memories of Christensen's school years during the Nazi occupation of Denmark), and others are political, touching on the Cold War and Chernobyl. The Condition of Secrecy also covers the Ars Poetica of Lu Chi (261-303 CE); William Blake and Isaac Newton; and such topics as randomness as a universal force and the role of the writer as an agent of social change. The Condition of Secrecy confirms that Inger Christensen is "a true singer of the syllables" (C. D. Wright), and "a formalist who makes her own rules, then turns the game around with another rule" (Eliot Weinberger).
Show More
Author:
Christensen, Inger
Inger Christensen (1935 2009), whose work is a cornerstone of modern Scandinavian poetry, was the recipient of many international awards, among them the Nordic Authors Prize, bestowed by the Swedish Academy and known as the Little Nobel. Her books include the masterpiece it; alphabet; Butterfly Valley; and Light, Grass, and Letter in April.
Show More
Translator:
Nied, Susanna
Susanna Nied's work has appeared in various literary journals and anthologies. Her translation of alphabet won the 1982 ASF/PEN Translation Prize for Poetry, awarded by the American-Scandinavian Foundation and Scandinavian Review.
Show More
List Price $16.95
Your Price
$12.20