Klaus Rifbjerg

Although Klaus Rifbjerg’s output is prodigious–including more than 25 novels and 15 volumes of poetry–only two works, a volume of selected poems and one novel are thus far available in English. Charlotte Gray has provided a comprehensive introduction to the works of this versatile man of letters, who enjoys a reputation not only as a novelist and poet but as a critic, playwright, journalist, and editor. She discusses Rifbjerg’s place both in the contemporary Danish literary scene and in modern letters. Offering a thorough analysis of each work, she traces Rifbjerg’s development chronologically and in terms of his contributions to various genres–particularly modernist poetry and psychological fiction–and points out the underlying unity of his work within these different forms. The author’s generous use of quotations and her sensitive commentary give a keen impression of Rifbjerg’s style and central concerns and convey his sense of the comic and tragic dimensions of modern existence.