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The Lovers: The Men Who Loved Karen Blixen
Karen Blixen is the centerpiece of this story about love and destiny. In circles around her, seven men move, each of whom tells about violent and decisive incidents in their lives, often with the erotic as a common feature.
The seven narrators of the novel are:
Karen's father, a restless and brave soldier.
Thomas Blixen's brother, a close and loyal friend.
Denys Finch Hatton: The big love of her life.
Farah Aden: Blixen's household steward in Africa.
Thorkild Bjørnvig: Poet and a close friend of Karen Blixen.
Otto Casparsson: A Swedish waiter and vagabond.
Morten de Coninck: The rich merchant's son from the story "The Supper at Elsinore."
The seven narrators of the novel are:
Karen's father, a restless and brave soldier.
Thomas Blixen's brother, a close and loyal friend.
Denys Finch Hatton: The big love of her life.
Farah Aden: Blixen's household steward in Africa.
Thorkild Bjørnvig: Poet and a close friend of Karen Blixen.
Otto Casparsson: A Swedish waiter and vagabond.
Morten de Coninck: The rich merchant's son from the story "The Supper at Elsinore."
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Peter Legård Nielsen
10 books2 followersPeter Legård Nielsen was born in 1960. He has published 9 novels, 2 poetry collections, one non-fiction book and edited a large number of anthologies in Danish.
"The Lovers. The Men Who Loved Karen Blixen" is Peters first novel in English.
He was chairman of The Danish Fiction Writers Association for 8 years. He has worked as a literary critic and have received many scholarships.
Peter Legård Nielsen is also an Authorized Advanced Rolfer™ and an Authorized IFS Practitioner
"The Lovers. The Men Who Loved Karen Blixen" is Peters first novel in English.
He was chairman of The Danish Fiction Writers Association for 8 years. He has worked as a literary critic and have received many scholarships.
Peter Legård Nielsen is also an Authorized Advanced Rolfer™ and an Authorized IFS Practitioner
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 19, 2024
“The Lovers: The Men Who Loved Karen Blixen” by Nielson was a moving read. When I reached only the second chapter, I anticipated it would be a 5-star read. The writing is phenomenal. Every chapter is poetic, and each character’s point of view is equally presented in beautiful prose.
Karen Blixen’s spirit haunts the pages, revealed through the men whose lives are interwoven with hers. This unique storytelling provides a window into a mysterious, misunderstood, and multifaceted woman. Her love, zest for life, depression, dreams, and heartbreak are poignant. Nielson’s descriptions of Africa are particularly vivid. He makes the sounds of the wilderness jump off the page.
The author’s descriptive writing presents a realism that takes the reader far beyond painting the scene. Well done, I experienced all the senses—the scenes came alive with smell, sight, touch, and sound.
This book and its Danish author, Nielson, were unexpected finds. They are a jewel of a book and worth every star. The story is saturated with prose that stirs the heart. The words made Tanne come alive again, as only the written word can. It handled her memory with tender care. I highly recommend this work.
Karen Blixen’s spirit haunts the pages, revealed through the men whose lives are interwoven with hers. This unique storytelling provides a window into a mysterious, misunderstood, and multifaceted woman. Her love, zest for life, depression, dreams, and heartbreak are poignant. Nielson’s descriptions of Africa are particularly vivid. He makes the sounds of the wilderness jump off the page.
The author’s descriptive writing presents a realism that takes the reader far beyond painting the scene. Well done, I experienced all the senses—the scenes came alive with smell, sight, touch, and sound.
This book and its Danish author, Nielson, were unexpected finds. They are a jewel of a book and worth every star. The story is saturated with prose that stirs the heart. The words made Tanne come alive again, as only the written word can. It handled her memory with tender care. I highly recommend this work.
September 5, 2025
There is a Danish expression that a loved creature has many names. That is true of Baroness Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke, aka Isak Dinesen, Tanne, Tania, or, as most know her, Karen Blixen.
I have read all her books, visited her home in Nairobi and her grave in Rungstedlund, Denmark, so when I saw The Lovers, I snatched it up with alacrity.
Peter Legård Nielsen surpassed my high expectations with his unputdownable novel that reads like a many-sided prism, refracting Blixen’s life and loves through the voices of the men who orbited her, each carrying their own shadows, weaknesses, and desires.
Wilhelm Dinesen, the father whose restless spirit she inherited; her brother Thomas, loyal and conflicted; Bror, her flawed husband; Hans, Bror’s twin she adored but could never have; Denys Finch Hatton, the love who gave her freedom but withheld permanence; Farah Aden, her steadfast steward; Thorkild Bjørnvig, the poet-friend who recognized her genius; and others who drift in and out of her orbit. Together, their voices form a chorus of devotion, betrayal, longing, and loss.
The novel captures the heady contradictions of colonial Kenya - the loneliness of the farm, the beauty of the Maasai, the scandals of Bror’s excesses, and the sense of Europe and Africa colliding in her daily life.
Through Denys’s eyes, we see love, cruelty, and restlessness. Through Farah’s steady gaze, we glimpse Blixen’s inner anguish, her mystical visions, and her resilience in the face of despair. The anecdotes of Bror’s wild living, Hans’s brilliance and charm, and Denys’s conflicted independence are rendered with such intimacy that the reader (well, me) is as compelled and unsettled as Blixen must have felt.
What I love most is how Nielsen uses these male voices to reveal Karen Bliksen's depth. Through their recollections, we see her brilliance, her vulnerability, and contradictions - an artist trapped between civilization and wilderness, freedom and need, myth and reality. The passages on her storytelling - holding Denys captive like Scheherazade, or painting as a means of survival - are the most moving I have read about her.
This is a sweeping saga of human frailty and devotion, showing how one extraordinary woman inspired, unsettled, and captivated those who knew her. It offers new angles, truths, and heartbreaks. For readers new to her, it opens a door into a life larger and more fragile than legend.
Beautifully written, sensuous, and unflinching, The Lovers is an intimate exploration of love, freedom, and the heavy price of destiny. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
I have read all her books, visited her home in Nairobi and her grave in Rungstedlund, Denmark, so when I saw The Lovers, I snatched it up with alacrity.
Peter Legård Nielsen surpassed my high expectations with his unputdownable novel that reads like a many-sided prism, refracting Blixen’s life and loves through the voices of the men who orbited her, each carrying their own shadows, weaknesses, and desires.
Wilhelm Dinesen, the father whose restless spirit she inherited; her brother Thomas, loyal and conflicted; Bror, her flawed husband; Hans, Bror’s twin she adored but could never have; Denys Finch Hatton, the love who gave her freedom but withheld permanence; Farah Aden, her steadfast steward; Thorkild Bjørnvig, the poet-friend who recognized her genius; and others who drift in and out of her orbit. Together, their voices form a chorus of devotion, betrayal, longing, and loss.
The novel captures the heady contradictions of colonial Kenya - the loneliness of the farm, the beauty of the Maasai, the scandals of Bror’s excesses, and the sense of Europe and Africa colliding in her daily life.
Through Denys’s eyes, we see love, cruelty, and restlessness. Through Farah’s steady gaze, we glimpse Blixen’s inner anguish, her mystical visions, and her resilience in the face of despair. The anecdotes of Bror’s wild living, Hans’s brilliance and charm, and Denys’s conflicted independence are rendered with such intimacy that the reader (well, me) is as compelled and unsettled as Blixen must have felt.
What I love most is how Nielsen uses these male voices to reveal Karen Bliksen's depth. Through their recollections, we see her brilliance, her vulnerability, and contradictions - an artist trapped between civilization and wilderness, freedom and need, myth and reality. The passages on her storytelling - holding Denys captive like Scheherazade, or painting as a means of survival - are the most moving I have read about her.
This is a sweeping saga of human frailty and devotion, showing how one extraordinary woman inspired, unsettled, and captivated those who knew her. It offers new angles, truths, and heartbreaks. For readers new to her, it opens a door into a life larger and more fragile than legend.
Beautifully written, sensuous, and unflinching, The Lovers is an intimate exploration of love, freedom, and the heavy price of destiny. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
July 16, 2024
This is a captivating exploration of the legendary author's life through the perspectives of seven significant men who deeply influenced her journey. The novel offers a rich and nuanced portrayal of Blixen, weaving together themes of love, destiny, and the erotic undertones that permeated her relationships. The storytelling is beautifully crafted, with each man's narrative adding depth and complexity to Blixen's character. The book delves into the profound connections and pivotal moments that shaped her life, providing a multifaceted view of her experiences and emotions. The prose is engaging and lyrical, drawing readers into Blixen's world and the intense emotions that defined her relationships. The novel captures the essence of Blixen's adventurous spirit, intellectual pursuits, and the deep bonds she formed with those around her. It's a must-read for fans of Blixen and anyone interested in a moving exploration of love and destiny. This novel is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant, making it a compelling addition to any literary collection.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews