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About this book

"It is the masterwork by Danish poet Inger Christensen, often cited as a Nobel contender and one of Europe's most revered poets. On its publication in 1969, it took Denmark by storm, winning critical praise and becoming a huge popular favorite. Translated into many languages, it won international acclaim and has since become a classic of modern Scandinavian poetry." "It is both a collection of poems and a single poetic epic, forming a philosophical and political statement on the nature of language, perception, and reality. The subject matter, though, is down-to-earth: amoebas, stones, and factories; fear, sea urchins, and mental institutions; sand, sexuality, and song. The words and images of it recur in ways reminiscent of Christensen's other works, but here is a younger poetry, wilder, and crackling with energy. The complex use of mathematical structure in it is faithfully captured in Susanna Nied's prize-winning English translation."--Jacket.