Terminal Innocence

Beskrivelse

A classic of twentieth-century Danish literature, Klaus Rifbjerg's 1958 novel explores the complex friendship between two teenage boys. Told through the eyes and slang of Janus, the story reveals the highs and lows of youth, love, and disillusionment.

A compelling tale of friendship, youthful admiration, and the harsh realities that shatter idealism.

Klaus Rifbjerg’s debut novel has become a staple in Danish literary history, frequently reprinted and widely celebrated. It follows the uneven friendship between Janus and Tore, narrated by Janus, who idolizes Tore and speaks in the language of a schoolboy. Tore is a brilliant and mature student, admired by teachers and classmates alike for his wit and charm. At the school dance, it’s inevitable that Tore and the stunning Helle fall for each other, becoming the golden couple everyone admires. Their future looks bright, but trouble lurks in the form of Helle’s mother, fru Junkersen, who disrupts their perfect world. Janus watches in despair as this dream collapses, destroying both Tore and Helle, and comes to understand his own role in sustaining a fragile illusion. Rifbjerg, a towering figure in Danish culture for over six decades, has produced around 175 works as a novelist, poet, playwright, and commentator. This first novel remains his acknowledged masterpiece.

Yderligere information