An english language translation by susanna nied won the americanscandinavian pen translation prize in 1982. After further research about the process and restrictions that christensen succumbed to, it is obvious that her messages and talent are not limited by the form she used. May 17, 2001 born in 1935, inger christensen is denmarks best known poet. Alphabet by inger christensen in doc, fb2, txt download e book. Susanna nieds remarkably beautiful translation was awarded the americanscandinavian pen translation prize by michael hamburger. Susanna nied s remarkably beautiful translation was awarded the americanscandinavian pen translation prize by michael hamburger. Awarded the americanscandinavian pen translation prize by michael hamburger, susanna nieds translation of alphabet introduces inger christensen s poetry to us readers for the first time. Awarded the americanscandinavian pen translation prize by michael.
Discover book depositorys huge selection of inger christensen books online. Inger christensen s alphabet is built up under two formal constraints. Inger christensens alphabet new directions, 2001 is a book that made me hesitate at first, then won me over. Per the title, it is an alphabet poem, so each section begins with and rotates around words beginning with a particular letter of the alphabet, proceeding through the letter n. Alphabet by inger christensen, susanna neid waterstones. Born in 1935, inger christensen is denmarks best known poet. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Alphabet an excerpt poem by inger christensen poem hunter. May 17, 2001 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. Read alphabet by inger christensen available from rakuten kobo. Nov, 2015 alphabet by inger christensen in doc, fb2, txt download ebook. Initially she studied medicine, but then trained as a teacher and worked at the college of art in holb.
Alphabet is a systematic poem that is dictated by the fibonacci sequence. Inger christensen 16 january 1935 2 january 2009 was a danish poet, novelist, essayist and editor. She was danish, and it is a misfortune for any great writer to be confined to a. Alphabet is one of the most wellknown poems of inger christensen, who was broadly considered to be denmarks most prominent poet. Bloodaxe books inger christensens alphabet installation at. Here are the first five sections of the danish poet inger christensens book alphabet, translated by susanna nied. Finally available in english translation, alphabet is a startling and gorgeous. May 14, 2019 inger christensen was both a virtuoso and a paradox. Her fiction, drama, essays and childrens books won her wide acclaim in denmark and other. Her fiction, drama, essays and childrens books won her wide acclaim in denmark and other european countries, but it is her poetry spanning a fortyyear period that best reveals. Inger christensen was a danish poet, essayist, and novelist, born in vejle, denmark in 1935. Finally available in english translation, alphabet is a startling and gorgeous work by denmarks most admired poet, inger christensen. Inger christensen was born in vejle, denmark, in 1935.
Although she has also written a novel, stories, essays, radio plays, a drama and an opera libretto, christensen is primarily known for her linguistically skilled and powerful poetry. Alphabet is one of the most wellknown poems of inger christensen, who was broadly. Her awardwinning alphabet is based structurally on fibonaccis sequence a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the two previous numbers. In the spring of 2011, i happened upon inger christensens alphabet, a slim new directions paperback, and came under the spell of its exquisite structure almost immediately. More by inger christensen i, up they soar i up they soar, the planets butterflies, pigments from the warm body of the earth, cinnabar, ochre, phosphor yellow, gold a swarm of basic elements aloft. Her awardwinning alphabet is based structurally on fibonaccis sequence a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the two previous numbers, in combination with the alphabet. Although she has also written a novel, stories, essays, radio plays, a drama and an opera libretto, christensen. Susanna nied on translating alphabet by inger christensen. Inger christensens alphabet is built up under two formal constraints. Her fiction, drama, essays and childrens books won her wide acclaim in denmark and other european countries, but it is her poetry spanning a fortyyear period that best reveals her versatility and depth. Christensens poem is a powerful account of living an ordinary life under the threat of nuclear war, but the poems lyrical accumulating form also makes it oddly redemptive.
Inger christensen has 59 books on goodreads with 6958 ratings. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Installation at kunsthalle in rotterdam commissioned by poetry international features inger christensen s alphabet in susanna nieds english translation. As used here with controlled repetitions, the fibonacci sequence gives the whole an almost. Inger christensen 19352009 was both a virtuoso and a paradox. Buy alphabet new directions by inger christensen isbn. Although she has also written a novel, stories, essays, radio plays, a drama and an opera libretto, christensen is primarily known for her linguistically skilled and. In february 2020 the irish poet ailbhe darcy presented a halfhour radio 4 feature on inger christensens booklength poem alphabet, the work which ailbhe pays homage to in the final sequence of her multiawardwinning second collection insistence. Her awardwinning alphabet is based structurally on fibonaccis sequence a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the two.
She is considered the foremost danish poetic experimentalist of her generation. Inger christensen, who has died aged 73, was one of the most significant european poets of the 20th century. May 01, 2001 finally available in english translation, alphabet is a startling and gorgeous work by denmarks most admired poet, inger christensen. The gorgeous poetry herein reflects a complex philosophical background, yet has a. English instructor susanna nied is the first in english and was awarded the americanscandinavian pen translation prize. Inger christensen biography, poems, alphabet, it, butterfly. Inger christensens book alphabet approaches language in an interesting and mathematical way. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Its inventive structure, based on the fibonacci sequence the number of lines in each section follow the pattern 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc. In the book, each section begins on a different page, which means that the book begins with a lot of white space. Light, grass, and letter in april is the first book in english to appear since the great danish. One of scandinavias most honored poets, veteran danish writer christensen originally published her booklength alphabet 20 years ago to great acclaim. Her fiction, drama, essays and childrens books won her wide acclaim in denmark and other european.
I couldnt fathom why i hadnt heard of the poem before. I, up they soar inger christensen 19352009 i up they soar, the planets butterflies, pigments from the warm body of the earth, cinnabar, ochre, phosphor yellow, gold a swarm of basic elements aloft. The poem was originally published in 1981 in danish as alfabet. After further research about the process and restrictions that christensen.
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