Steen Langstrup > Quotes

“I had my first cigarette when I was five,” he says, making rings of smoke. “With my mother.”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“There is always a unique atmosphere in the car when you drive through the City with a dead body in the back.”
― Steen Langstrup, In The Shadow of Sadd

“You just hang in there, boy, hang in with that apprenticeship of yours, do you hear me? You are lucky they would even take someone like you. You’re a child of the slums. A ragtag. On top of that, you’re a whining piece of shit. Nobody will ever do anything for you. Do you understand what I’m saying? They’ll let you starve to death, no problem. Nobody is going to cry on your grave.”

Poul-Erik’s Mother
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“You know what, BB? We’ve got dark spots on our souls. We have to live with that. War is not about doing what’s right. War’s about surviving.”

Verner aka ‘Jens’
in the novel 'The Informer' by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“F***, some people are so determined to be good that it makes me want to puke.”

Bruno Hanson in
In The Shadow of Sadd.”
― Steen Langstrup, In The Shadow of Sadd

“AK 47, is perfect copy, yes? Every detail. Like real thing. Yes. Kalashnikov. Your boy, he be happy for Uncle Sante, no?”
“I’m sorry, Sante. It’s really nice of you, but I don’t want Sofus playing with guns.”


Conversation between George Hanson and Sante
In The Shadow of Sadd”
― Steen Langstrup, In The Shadow of Sadd

“Those Zolofts make me so fucking hungry. I’ve gained 20 pounds – it’s totally out of control.”

George Hanson
In The Shadow of Sadd.”
― Steen Langstrup, In The Shadow of Sadd

“It’s all a pile of shit,” he whispers to the darkness around him. “It’s all just one big pile of shit.”

Verner aka ‘Jens’
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“This is Denmark. We are Danes. We keep our distance. We do not pick a seat close to strangers if other seats are available. We do not talk to strangers in the trains.”

William Wilson in the short story 'Metro' by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, Metro

“It’s a case of mistaken identity. It’s one big mistake. You weren’t even in the country when it happened.”

Maja in the short story 'Metro' by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, Metro

“I turn off my cell phone and reluctantly slide it down my pocket. My hands are shaking. A large knife appears in his hand.”

William Wilson in the short story 'Metro' by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, Metro

“My doppelganger wraps the ear in a handkerchief and shoves it into his pocket as he leaves the train with a nod of his head in my direction.”

William Wilson in the short story 'Metro' by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, Metro

“I’ve just been wandering the streets at night. If I came by a German soldier out alone, I would follow him, shove the pistol to the back of his head, and shoot. Once, I even did two at the same time, but they were really drunk.”


Poul-Erik aka ‘Willy’
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“There are criminals everywhere these days, you know. One might end up missing the police! Who would have thought that possible?”

The Maid
The Informer by Steen Langtrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“Fuck!” he shouts. “FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!”
“I’m not too fucking fond of loud noises, Bruno. Maybe it’d be a good idea if you backed up to the curb and got your insurance papers ready. We wouldn’t want the police to get involved, would we?”

Conversation between Bruno Hanson and George Hanson
In The Shadow of Sadd.”
― Steen Langstrup, In The Shadow of Sadd

“The man is well inside the train before the dreadful truth occurs to me. He is the man from the newspaper. The rapist. My doppelganger. My mirrored doppelganger.”

William Wilson in the short story 'Metro' by Steen Langstrup.”
― Steen Langstrup, Metro

“What do you say, son? Doesn’t your father look great in his new uniform?”

Poul-Erik’s Father
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“No, Karl, not now. Take it easy. It’s our happy day.”

Poul-Erik’s Mother
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“Agreed. We could set a trap for him. See if he goes for it.”
“How would we do that?”

Conversation between ‘Borge’ and ‘Jens’
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“What if the saboteurs come while he’s standing there pissing on our truck?”
“Then he’s in trouble.”

Conversation between two Gestapo Officers
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“That’s war. It won’t let anyone get away unscathed. I’m sorry about Grete.”

Verner aka ‘Jens’
in the novel 'the Informer' by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“Meet me tonight, six o’clock sharp, at the gates of the municipal hospital. It is very important that you are precise. Not five minutes early, not five minutes late. In case I’m not there, you leave straight away. Got it?”

Ingrid aka ‘Alis K’
The Informer”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“We cut down trees that do not bear fruit! We have to bring back the death penalty! It’s the only way to deal with evil.”
“Would you execute anyone else, now that you’re in a groove?”

Conversation on Radio Fake 112.8 MHz
In The Shadow of Sadd”
― Steen Langstrup, In The Shadow of Sadd

“They died. Along with three other men who had joined our group. We were betrayed. The porter had told his girlfriend about the operation. They’d only just met each other. Jens shot her a week later.”

Johannes aka ‘BB’
The Informer”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“Someday this war will be over. A new order of the world will appear in its place. The idea of Socialism will prevail. In the future they’ll remember us as heroes.”

Thorkild aka ‘Borge’
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“My name’s Alis K. From now on you will be Willy. Come on, let’s push the bicycles for a bit.”

Ingrid aka ‘Alis K’
The Informer”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“I’ve been washing stairs my whole life. One day after the other. Since I was five years old. I’ve never complained. Shame on you. I’m embarrassed to have a son like you…can’t even look after his own bicycle. You just wait until your dad comes home. Then you’ll be in trouble, I can tell you that much.”

Poul-Erik’s Mother
The Informer”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer

“I thought about taking a course in painting. I was good at drawing in school, you remember?”
“You never went to school.”

Conversation between Bruno Hanson and George Hanson
In The Shadow of Sadd.”
― Steen Langstrup, In The Shadow of Sadd

“I covered the body with a rug. You think I’m an idiot?”

Bruno Hanson
In The Shadow of Sadd.”
― Steen Langstrup, In The Shadow of Sadd

“It was the second time in a row they were expecting us. We’ve got an informer in our group.”

Johannes aka ‘BB’
The Informer by Steen Langstrup”
― Steen Langstrup, The Informer