Tom Kristensen’s Followers (55)

Tom Kristensen

Born

in London, The United Kingdom

August 04, 1893

Died

June 02, 1974

Genre

Poetry, Fiction, Travel

Influences

Johannes V. Jensen, Friedrich Nietzsche, D.H. Lawrence, James Joyce ...more

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For the Norwegian author by the same name, please see: Tom Kristensen

Tom Aage Kristensen was born in London in United Kingdom in 1893 to Danish parents. In his early childhood the family moved back to Denmark, more specifically Copenhagen, where Kristensen grew up.

Kristensen was a Danish poet, writer, and critic. He was a key figure in Danish literature in the interwar period (as well as later), and is considered one of the few Danish expressionist writers.

A path towards literature was being shaped early on, as he was named after the fictional character Uncle Tom from Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), which was his mother's favorite book.

In 1919 Kristensen graduated with a major in Danish. After graduating he taught For the Norwegian author by the same name, please see: Tom Kristensen

Tom Aage Kristensen was born in London in United Kingdom in 1893 to Danish parents. In his early childhood the family moved back to Denmark, more specifically Copenhagen, where Kristensen grew up.

Kristensen was a Danish poet, writer, and critic. He was a key figure in Danish literature in the interwar period (as well as later), and is considered one of the few Danish expressionist writers.

A path towards literature was being shaped early on, as he was named after the fictional character Uncle Tom from Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), which was his mother's favorite book.

In 1919 Kristensen graduated with a major in Danish. After graduating he taught English for two years whilst writing his first works. In 1920 he debuted as a poet, when Fribytterdrømme (in English: "Freebooter Dreams") was published. The year after he made his debut as a novelist with Livets Arabesk (in English: "The Arabesque of Life"). Both works are characterized as expressionistic writings with strong influences from Nietzsche's thoughts on chaos and lack of accept of the passed-on systems of belief.

During the 1920's Kristensen travelled a lot within and outside of Europe. Travels to i.e. China, Japan and Spain resulted in published fictional depictions of his destinations.

Despite his many travels and writings thereof, his probably best known novel takes place in his own Copenhagen as well as in some of his own personal struggles:
In 1930 Hærværk (published in English in 1968 as Havoc) was published. The novel, considered by many to be Kristensen's greatest work, revolts around the life of alcoholized literary critic Ole Jastrau, whose life bears great resemblance to Tom Kristensen's own life at the time. The story depicts a self-destructive nihilistic soul determined to drink himself to death in a modern western capital. Kristensen's fascination with chaos and disaster once again shines through in his masterpiece.

A few years after the death of his third wife in 1943, he withdrew from the Danish capital, and moved to the small island Thurø in 1946 where he lived until his death in 1974. ...more

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Tom Kristensen’s books

Average rating: 4.0 · 2,746 ratings · 203 reviews · 67 distinct works • Similar authors

	Hærværk 4.08 avg rating — 2,275 ratings — published 1930 — 31 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Livets Arabesk 3.81 avg rating — 78 ratings — published 1921 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Samlede digte 4.19 avg rating — 42 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fribytterdrømme 4.13 avg rating — 38 ratings — published 1920 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	En anden 3.56 avg rating — 39 ratings — published 1923 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	En Kavaler i Spanien 3.50 avg rating — 36 ratings — published 1962 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bokserdrengen : Kina i opprør : en fortælling fra det kinesiske oprør 3.73 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 1981 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Københavnske Drenge og andre Erindringsglimt fra Aabenhjertige Fortielser 3.12 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 1968	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mod den yderste Rand (Gyldendals Spættebøger #7) 3.64 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 1936	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hvad er Heta? og andre fortællinger 3.43 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 1959 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Tom Kristensen (?)

“Asiatisk i Vælde er Angsten.
Den er modnet med umodne Aar.
Og jeg føler det dagligt i Hjærtet,
som om Fastlande dagligt forgaar.

Men min Angst må forløses i Længsel
og i Syner af Rædsel og Nød.
Jeg har længtes mod Skibskatastrofer
og mod Hærværk og pludselig Død.

Jeg har længtes mod brændende Byer
og mod Menneskeracer på Flugt,
mod et Opbrud, som ramte Alverden,
og et Jordskælv, som kaldtes Guds Tugt.”
― Tom Kristensen

tags: existence, inspirational, life

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Tom Kristensen’s Followers (55)

Tom Kristensen

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