PRESENTATION-COPY OF DITLEVSEN'S DEBUT PUBLICATION
DITLEVSEN, TOVE.
Pigesind.
København, Rasmus Naver, 1939.
Uncut in the original printed wrappers illustrated by Arne Ungermann, inscribed by Ditlevsen to her publisher Rasmus Naver: "Til / Rasmus Naver. / Venligst fra / Tove Ditlevsen / 10/10-1939" ("To / Rasmus Naver / With kind regards / Tove Ditlevsen / 10/10-1939"). Corners bumped and discolouration to margins of wrappers, otherwise a fine and clean copy. 63 pp.
Typewritten letter from Viggo Møller (Ditlevsen's husband) to Rasmus Naver: "Kære Naver - da det måske varer en Ugestid, inden korrekturen paa / Tove Ditlevsens Digtsamling foreligger, og jeg jo ikke ved hvor- / når Du skal have meddelelse frem for den undrende Offentlighed / om din dine Efteraarsplaner, kommer jeg her medfølgende oplysninger: / Forfatterinden hedder hedder altså Tove Ditlevsen, 20 aar gammel, kendt / fra Vild Hvede", har læst op i Dansk Kvindesamfund i "Politiken's" / Sal, og har faaet læst op (af Valborg Voss-Christensen) i Radioen. / Bogen skal hedde "Pigesind" - det lyder beskedent og kønt, synes / jeg. Den bliver paa 4 ark, med Omslagstegning af Ungermann. Skal / iflg. foreligge færdig 15 Septbr. / Naar korrekturen er de, kan vi maaske samles til et lille Venne- / møde. Og saa skal jeg begynde at virke med smaa Forhaandsnotitser / og saadan noget. Jeg tror nemlig stadig paa Mirakler - d.v.s. jeg / tror, at denne bog kan sælges. Saa kuldret er jeg. / Venligst Hilsen / [signed:] Viggo fm / .22/8-39
English: "Dear Naver - as it may take about a week before the correction of/ Tove Ditlevsen's poetry collection is ready, and since I don't know when / you need notification rather than the wondering public / about your autumn plans, I'm providing the following information: / The author is indeed Tove Ditlevsen, 20 years old, known / from 'Wild Wheat,' has read at the Danish Women's Society in 'Politiken's' / Hall, and has had readings (by Valborg Voss-Christensen) on the radio. / The book will be titled 'Girl's Mind' - it sounds modest and lovely, I think. / It will be on 4 sheets, with cover illustration by Ungermann. / Supposedly ready by September 15th. / When the correction is done, perhaps we can gather for a small friendly / meeting. And then I'll start working on small advance notes and such. I still believe in miracles - that is, I believe this book can be sold. That's how optimistic I am. / Kind regards / [signed:] Viggo fm / .22/8-39"
The rare first edition, here with a most interesting presentation-inscription to her publisher, of Ditlevsen’s seminal debut publication. Allegedly, she only gave away ten presentation copies of her debut publication, making them of the utmost scarcity. Ditlevsen is considered one of the most important and unique voices in twentieth-century Danish literature and many of the themes she touches upon ring a universal bell. Her works are particularly valuable as they dramatize the consequences of locking women into marriage, into the roles of wife and mother. In 2021, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian elected Tove Ditlevesen's recently translated "The Copenhagen Trilogy” as book of the year and celebrated Ditlevsen as one of the most important authors in 20th century literature.
The collection consists in 32 poems that range widely from the broodingly sad, over deeply unhappy to the almost cheerful. They represent the mind of a young girl and what goes on in it, a young girl whose life was to be marked by anxiety, drug addiction, and repeated suicide attempts.
Ditlevsen's writing has had a lasting impact upon Danish literature, and her works continue to be read and studied for their candid and emotional exploration of the human condition. Her life and writing remain highly important subject matters for those interested in Scandinavian literature and the confessional literary tradition.
Order-nr.: 60511
DKK 12.000,00