Inger Christensen (16 January 1935 – 2 January 2009) was a Danish poet, novelist, essayist and editor. She is considered the foremost Danish poetic experimentalist of her generation.

Life and work

Born in the town of

Vejle Vejle () is a city in Denmark, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula at the head of Vejle Fjord, where the Vejle River and Grejs River and their valleys converge. It is the site of the councils of Vejle Municipality ('' kommune'') and t ...

, on the eastern

Jutland Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...

coast of Denmark, Christensen's father was a tailor, and her mother a cook before her marriage. After graduating from

Vejle Gymnasium Vejle () is a city in Denmark, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula at the head of Vejle Fjord, where the Vejle River and Grejs River and their valleys converge. It is the site of the councils of Vejle Municipality ('' kommune'') and the ...

, she moved to

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

and, later, to

Århus Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Århus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and approximately north ...

, studying at the Teachers’ College there. She received her certificate in 1958. During this same period, Christensen began publishing poems in the journal

Hvedekorn ''Hvedekorn'' ( Danish:''Grains of Wheat'') is a Danish language literary magazine published in Copenhagen, Denmark, since 1920. It is one of the Danish publications which improved the cultural journalism in the country. History and profile The ...

, and was guided by the noted Danish poet and critic

Poul Borum Poul Villiam Borum (15 October 1934 – 10 May 1996) was a Danish writer, poet and critic. He was editor of the influential Danish literary magazine '' Hvedekorn'' from 1968 to his death in 1996. He also initiated the Danish ''writers school'' ( ...

(1934–1995), whom she married in 1959 and divorced in 1976.Jensen, Elisabeth Mølle
''Inger Christensen (1935 - 2009)''
. Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon. After teaching at the

College for Arts A college ( Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...

Holbæk Holbæk () is a town in Denmark and the County seat, seat of Holbæk municipality with a population of 29,608 (1 January 2022).Græs'' (''Grass'', 1963), both examining the limits of self-knowledge and the role of

language Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of ...

perception Perception () is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented information or environment. All perception involves signals that go through the nervous system, ...

. Her most acclaimed work of the 1960s, however, was '' It'' (''det''), which, on one level, explored social, political and aesthetic issues, but more deeply probed large philosophical questions of meaning. The work, almost incantatory in tone, opposes issues such as fear and love and power and powerlessness. In these years Christensen also published two novels, '' Evighedsmaskinen'' (1964) and '' Azorno'' (1967), as well as a shorter fiction on the Italian

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass id ...

painter

Mantegna Mantegna is a surname. Notable people with the name include: * Andrea Mantegna ( – 1506), Italian painter * Gia Mantegna (born 1990), American actress * Joe Mantegna (born 1947), American actor See also * Mantegna Tarocchi The Mantegna Tarocc ...

, presented from the viewpoint of various narrators (Mantegna's secretary Marsilio, the Turkish princess Farfalla, and Mantagena's young son), Det malede Værelse (1976, translated into English as ''

The Painted Room ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'' by

Harvill Press Harvill Secker is a British publishing company formed in 2005 from the merger of Secker & Warburg and the Harvill Press. History Secker & Warburg Secker & Warburg was formed in 1935 from a takeover of Martin Secker, which was in receivership, ...

in 2000). Much of Christensen's work was organized upon “systemic” structures in accordance with her belief that poetry is not truth and not even the “dream” of truth, but “is a game, maybe a tragic game—the game we play with a world that plays its own game with us.” In the 1981 poetry collection '' Alfabet'', Christensen used the alphabet (from a apricots"to n nights" along with the Fibonacci mathematical sequence in which the next number is the sum of the two previous ones (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34...). As she explained: "The numerical ratios exist in nature: the way a leek wraps around itself from the inside, and the head of a snowflower, are both based on this series." Her system ends on the n, suggesting many possible meanings including “n’s” significance as any whole number. As with ''It'', however, despite its highly structured elements this work is a poetically evocative series concerned with oppositions such as an outpouring of the joy of the world counterposed with the fears for and forces poised for its destruction. ''Sommerfugledalen'' of 1991 ('' Butterfly Valley: A Requiem'', 2004) explores through the

sonnet A sonnet is a poetic form that originated in the poetry composed at the Court of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the Sicilian city of Palermo. The 13th-century poet and notary Giacomo da Lentini is credited with the sonnet's inventio ...

structure the fragility of life and mortality, ending in a kind of transformation. Christensen also wrote works for children, plays, radio pieces, and numerous essays, the most notable of which were collected in her book Hemmelighedstilstanden (''

The State of Secrecy ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'') in 2000.

Awards and honors

In 1978, she was appointed to the Royal Danish Academy; in 1994, she became a member of the

Académie Européenne de Poésie An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, f ...

("European Academy of Poetry");''Inger Christensen er død''
(2009-01-05) .

Politiken ''Politiken'' is a leading Danish daily broadsheet newspaper, published by JP/Politikens Hus in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in 1884 and played a role in the formation of the Danish Social Liberal Party. Since 1970 it has been indep ...

. in 2001, a member of the

Academy of Arts, Berlin The Academy of Arts (german: Akademie der Künste) is a state arts institution in Berlin, Germany. The task of the Academy is to promote art, as well as to advise and support the states of Germany. The Academy's predecessor organization was fo ...

."Poet Inger Christensen dies: Danish poet Inger Christensen dies at 73"
Agence France Presse, as published on the Singapore ''Straits Times'' website, retrieved January 7, 2008 She won the Grand Prix des Biennales Internationales de Poésie in 1991; She received the

Rungstedlund Award The Rungstedlund Award is an award of honor, founded by the Rungstedlund Foundation (''Rungstedlundfonden'') in 1991. The DKK 25,000 prize is annually handed to a person who has made a notable contribution in an area which interested Karen Blixen ...

in 1991. Der österreichische Staatspreis für Literature ("

Austrian State Prize for European Literature The Austrian State Prize for European Literature (german: Österreichischer Staatspreis für Europäische Literatur), also known in Austria as the European Literary Award (''Europäischer Literaturpreis''), is an Austria Austria, , bar, Ö ...

") in 1994; in 1994, she won the

Swedish Academy Nordic Prize The Nordic Prize (''Swedish'': nordiska pris) is a literary award presented annually by the Swedish Academy. The recipient is someone from the Nordic countries who has done significant work in any of the Academy's areas of operations or interests. ...

, known as the 'little Nobel'; the

European Poetry Prize European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe a ...

in 1995;

The America Award America Award may refer to: * America Award in Literature The America Award is a lifetime achievement literary award for international writers. It describes itself as a modest attempt at providing alternatives to the Nobel Prize in Literature. ...

in 2001; the German

Siegfried Unseld Preis The Siegfried Unseld Preis is an international award for scientific and literary accomplishments. It has been awarded biennially on 28 September since its establishment on that date in 2004, the 80th birthday of the German publisher by the Siegf ...

in 2006;"Danish Writer Inger Christensen Dies at Age 73"
Associated Press article (no byline given), as published on ''The New York Times'' website, January 5, 2009, retrieved January 7, 2009 and received numerous other distinctions. Her works have been translated into several languages, and she was frequently mentioned as a candidate for the

Nobel Prize in literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 ...

Works

Years link to corresponding " earin poetry" article for books of poems, or " earin literature" for other literary works: *

1962 Events January * January 1 – Western Samoa becomes independent from New Zealand. * January 3 – Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro for preaching communism. * January 8 – Harmelen train disaster: 93 die in the wo ...

: ''Lys: digte'' ("Light"), poems *

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...

: ''Græs: digte'' ("Grass"), poems *

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...

: ''Evighedsmaskinen'', ("Eternity Machine"), novel *

1967 Events January * January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair. * January 5 ** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establ ...

: ''Azorno'', novel (translated into English by Denise Newman; New Directions, 2009) *

1969 This year is notable for Apollo 11's first landing on the moon. Events January * January 4 – The Government of Spain hands over Ifni to Morocco. * January 5 ** Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 crashes into a house on its approach to ...

: '' det'', ("it"), poems 1969 (translated into English by Susanna Nied) *

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, me ...

: ''Intriganterne'' ("The Scheming"), play *

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phil ...

: ''Det malede værelse'' ("The Painted Room: A Tale of Mantua"), novel (translated into English by Denise Newman;

, 2000) *

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

: ''Brev i april'' ("Letter in April"), poems *

: ''Den historie der skal fortælles'' *

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major off ...

: '' Alfabet'', 1981 - "Alphabet", poems (translated into English by Susanna Nied), twice translated into Swedish *

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., Un ...

: ''Del af labyrinten'' ("Part of the Maze"), essays *

: ''Den store ukendte rejse'' ("The Big Unknown Journey"), children's book *

1987 File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airpor ...

: ''En vinteraften i Ufa og andre spil'' ("A Winter Evening in Ufa"), plays *

1989 File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxon Valdez oil tanker ru ...

: ''Digt om døden'' ("Poem on Death") *

: ''Lys og Græs'' ("Light and Grass"), poetry *

1990 File:1990 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1990 FIFA World Cup is played in Italy; The Human Genome Project is launched; Voyager I takes the famous Pale Blue Dot image- speaking on the fragility of Humankind, humanity on Earth, Astroph ...

: ''Mikkel og hele menageriet'' (illustrated by Lillian Brøgger) children's book *

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the ...

: '' Sommerfugledalen'', ("Butterfly Valley: A Requiem"), poems (translated into English by Susanna Nied) *

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...

: ''Samlede digte'' ("Collected Poems") *

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

: ''Hemmelighedstilstanden'' ("The State of Secrecy"), essays

Musical settings

The complete "Butterfly valley" has been set twice by two Danish composers,

Niels Rosing-Schow Niels Rosing-Schow (born 1954, in Copenhagen) is a Danish composer. He was a student of Ib Nørholm Ib Nørholm (24 January 1931 in Søborg, Gladsaxe Municipality – 10 June 2019) was a Denmark, Danish composer and organist. Life and career Nør ...

and Svend Nielsen. Both versions were, separately, recorded by Ars Nova Copenhagen with poetry reading by the poet.

References

External links

*
Poem of Christensen painted on a wall in Copenhagen
in

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publishe ...

Marcus Williamson Marcus Williamson is a British writer, journalist and campaigner. As an obituarist for ''The Independent'' he has written obituaries of more than 300 subjects, including artists, poets, actors and inventors. Campaigns Phorm In 2009 the AIM- ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christensen, Inger 1935 births 2009 deaths People from Vejle Municipality Danish women poets Danish women novelists Danish essayists Danish women essayists 20th-century Danish poets 20th-century Danish novelists 20th-century Danish women writers 20th-century essayists Burials at the Garrison Cemetery, Copenhagen