Karen Blixen

A Danish female novelist. She started writing poetry and criticism at an early age, married her cousin Baron Blixen, then moved to Kenya, Africa, and separated from her husband. She managed a coffee plantation on her own for 17 years, and was well-respected by the natives, but after the business failed she turned to writing novels in earnest, initially writing in English under the male pen name of Isaac Dinesen (Dinesen was her birth surname), and became known in the UK and the US. Her life was unique, but her works were also unique, and she preferred to write about strange subjects in extremely sophisticated and intellectual prose. In addition to Seven Gothic Novels (1934) and Winter Fairy Tale (1942), she also wrote a record of her time in Africa, An African Plantation (1937) and Shadows on the Grass (1960). She is one of the most outstanding writers of the 20th century, and was a leading candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times.

[Yamamuro Shizuka]

"Yamamuro Shizu's translation of "The Flood of Norderney" (1970, Shinchosha)" ▽ "Yokoyama Sadako's translation of "The Dinesen Collection" 4 volumes (1981, Shobunsha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

デンマークの女流小説家。早くから詩や批評を書き、従兄(いとこ)のブリクセン男爵と結婚、ついでアフリカのケニアに渡り、夫と離別。独力で17年間コーヒー園を経営、原住民には信望があったが、結局事業に失敗してから本格的に小説に転じ、初めアイザック・ディネセンという男性の筆名で英語で書き、英米で知られた（ディネセンは生家の姓）。生活も特異だが作品も異色に富み、好んで怪奇な題材を極度に洗練された知的文章で描く。『七つのゴシック小説』（1934）、『冬のメルヘン』（1942）のほか、アフリカ時代の記録『アフリカの農園』（1937）、『草の上の影』（1960）など。20世紀を代表する優れた作家の1人で、何度かノーベル文学賞の有力候補になった。

［山室　静］

『山室静訳『ノルダーナイの大洪水』（1970・新潮社）』▽『横山貞子訳『ディネセン・コレクション』四巻（1981・晶文社）』

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