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it is the masterwork by Danish poet Inger Christensen (a true singer of the syllables, said C. D. Wright), often cited as a Nobel contender and one of Europe's most revered poets. On its publication in 1969, it took Denmark by storm, winning critical praise and becoming a huge popular favorite. Translated into many languages, it won international acclaim and is now a classic of modern Scandinavian poetry.

it is both a collection of poems and a single poetic epic, forming a philosophical statement on the nature of language, perception, and reality. The subject matter, though, is down to earth: amoebas, stones, and factories; fear, sea urchins, and mental institutions; sand, sexuality, and song. The words and images of it recur in ways reminiscent of Christensen's other works, but here is a younger poetry, wilder, and crackling with energy. The marvelous and complex use of mathematical structure in it is faithfully captured in Susanna Nied's English translation, which won a 2005 PEN Translation Fund Award.

Author: Inger Christensen
Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation
Published: 11/29/2006
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 9.00h x 7.16w x 0.57d
ISBN13: 9780811215947
ISBN10: 0811215946
BISAC Categories:
- Poetry | European | General