LCC
PS3555.B4824D36 2001
Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Penguin Books, 2001.
Description
Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML: �??The Danish Girl is an extraordinary story about extraordinary people.�?� �?? Eddie Redmayne National Bestseller * A New York Times Notable Book * Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Fiction * Winner of the Rosenthal Foundation Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters * Finalist for the New York Public Library Young Lions Award * Finalist for the American Library Association Stonewall Book Award Now an Academy Award-winning major motion picture, starring Academy Award-winners Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander and directed by Academy Award-winner Tom Hooper Loosely inspired by a true story, this tender portrait of marriage asks: What do you do when the person you love has to change? It starts with a question, a simple favor asked by a wife of her husband while both are painting in their studio, setting off a transformation neither can anticipate. Uniting fact and fiction into an original romantic vision, The Danish Girl eloquently portrays the unique intimacy that defines every marriage and the remarkable story of Lili Elbe, a pioneer in transgender history, and the woman torn between loyalty to her marriage and her own ambitions and desires. The Danish Girl�??s lush prose and generous emotional insight make it, after the last page is turned, a deeply moving first novel about one of the most passionate and unusual love stories of the 20th c… (more)
Media reviews
User reviews
LibraryThing member Clurb
This book is a fictitious account of the lives of Einar Wegener and his wife, Greta; dealing with the realisation of his sexuality, his sex change, and the new separate lives they lead.
It's touching and poignant in all the right ways and deals honestly with a strained but loving and, ultimately,
Well worth a read if you're into themes of identity and love. Very nice, indeed.
It's touching and poignant in all the right ways and deals honestly with a strained but loving and, ultimately,
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healthy relationship.Well worth a read if you're into themes of identity and love. Very nice, indeed.
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LibraryThing member Jcambridge
This is an amazing story and readers can learn a great deal from it. I made a point of reading it before seeing the film and recommend that others to the same. There was dialogue in an early section of the book and comments by the author at the end if the book that I found particularly interesting:
Dialogue between Hans and Lili from Part I:
"Don't you think marriage is the one single thing we all should hope for most in life? Doesn't it make you more whole than living all alone?"...
"Not always."...
"I think it does. Marriage is a like a third person. It creates someone else, more than just the two of you."...
"Yes, but not always for the best."...
From a conversation with the author at the end of the book:
...Marriage fascinates me: how we negotiate its span, how we change within it, how it changes itself, and why some relationships survive themselves and others do not. There isn't a single marriage that couldn't provide enough narrative arc for novel...Put simply, it is the question that we perpetually ask ourselves: what is love?...
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Dialogue between Hans and Lili from Part I:
"Don't you think marriage is the one single thing we all should hope for most in life? Doesn't it make you more whole than living all alone?"...
"Not always."...
"I think it does. Marriage is a like a third person. It creates someone else, more than just the two of you."...
"Yes, but not always for the best."...
From a conversation with the author at the end of the book:
...Marriage fascinates me: how we negotiate its span, how we change within it, how it changes itself, and why some relationships survive themselves and others do not. There isn't a single marriage that couldn't provide enough narrative arc for novel...Put simply, it is the question that we perpetually ask ourselves: what is love?...
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LibraryThing member pdebolt
Based on the true story of a Danish painter, this is a very well-written novel about the remarkable relationship between a transgender artist and his American spouse in Europe during the 1920's.
LibraryThing member tibobi
The Short of It:
A non-traditional love story that will stay with you long after you put it down.
The Rest of It:
I absolutely loved this novel. The novel itself was inspired by the marriage of Einar and Gerda Wegener, both artists living in Copenhagen in 1925. As Einar realizes that he is indeed a
Ebershoff paints Einar as a very delicate creature. Here is an example:
"Einar pressed the side of his face into the pillow. He fell asleep again. There he was, Greta's huband. With his fine skin, and his small head with the temples that dented softly, almost like a baby's. With his nose flaring with breath. With his smell of turpentine and talc. With the skin around his eyes, red and nearly on fire. "
The love that Greta has for her husband is what encourages her to support his transformation. As afraid as she is of losing Einar, she feels that his happiness means more to her than their marriage. Once she accepts this, she begins to seek medical advice which results in Einar's permanent gender modification. The first of its kind.
There are some very tender moments and some very difficult decisions made. Lili is surrounded by supportive friends as she completes the transformation but where does this leave Greta? Greta misses Einar yet she loves Lili and realizes that at some point, she must let Lili live her own life.
I'm telling you, this story just broke my heart but in a wonderful, "ball up your hankie and shed a tear" kind of way. This is my book club's pick for this month (selected by me) and the meeting is tomorrow so I have to wait a day to hear what they thought of it but I am hoping that they enjoyed it as much as I did.
The other item that I want to mention is that The Danish Girl is being made into a movie and will star Nicole Kidman as Einar/Lili and Charlize Theron as Greta. How's that for casting?
David Ebershoff also wrote The 19th Wife, which I know a lot of you have read. The Danish Girl was his first novel.
A non-traditional love story that will stay with you long after you put it down.
The Rest of It:
I absolutely loved this novel. The novel itself was inspired by the marriage of Einar and Gerda Wegener, both artists living in Copenhagen in 1925. As Einar realizes that he is indeed a
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woman, seemingly trapped in a man's body, he becomes Lili and the three of them live together as a family of sorts. At first, he dresses as Lili in the privacy of the apartment that he shares with Greta but as the weeks pass and with the support of Greta, he begins to allow Lili to take short shopping trips. After several outings, Lili is introduced as Einar's sister and even attends a few social gatherings. As her confidence grows, Greta sees less and less of Einar and she realizes that soon her husband may not exist at all.Ebershoff paints Einar as a very delicate creature. Here is an example:
"Einar pressed the side of his face into the pillow. He fell asleep again. There he was, Greta's huband. With his fine skin, and his small head with the temples that dented softly, almost like a baby's. With his nose flaring with breath. With his smell of turpentine and talc. With the skin around his eyes, red and nearly on fire. "
The love that Greta has for her husband is what encourages her to support his transformation. As afraid as she is of losing Einar, she feels that his happiness means more to her than their marriage. Once she accepts this, she begins to seek medical advice which results in Einar's permanent gender modification. The first of its kind.
There are some very tender moments and some very difficult decisions made. Lili is surrounded by supportive friends as she completes the transformation but where does this leave Greta? Greta misses Einar yet she loves Lili and realizes that at some point, she must let Lili live her own life.
I'm telling you, this story just broke my heart but in a wonderful, "ball up your hankie and shed a tear" kind of way. This is my book club's pick for this month (selected by me) and the meeting is tomorrow so I have to wait a day to hear what they thought of it but I am hoping that they enjoyed it as much as I did.
The other item that I want to mention is that The Danish Girl is being made into a movie and will star Nicole Kidman as Einar/Lili and Charlize Theron as Greta. How's that for casting?
David Ebershoff also wrote The 19th Wife, which I know a lot of you have read. The Danish Girl was his first novel.
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LibraryThing member bermudaonion
Danish artist Einer Wegener and his artist wife, Greta, live a simple life in Copenhagen in the 1920′s. Einer paints landscapes while Greta paints portraits. Greta is almost through with a portrait, but the subject had to cancel her sitting, so Greta asks Einer to wear the shoes, hose and dress
When Einer is dressed as Lili, he’s completely transformed and it seems that Lili is beginning to take over his life, and it’s even beginning to affect Einer’s health. Greta, and her twin brother Carlisle, seek a solution by speaking to every doctor they can think of. Greta thinks she’s found the answer, and encourages Einer to seek help.
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff is loosely based on the story of Einer Wegener, a Danish artist who lived from 1882 to 1931. I was a little confused at the beginning of the book when Lili was referred to as she (since Lili is actually a man dressed as a woman at that point), until I realized that Einer actually felt like a she when he was dressed as Lili.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the story of Einer Wegner is fascinating. I had no idea that there were people as open to the ideas presented in this book during the early part of the 20th century.
Deep down inside, this book is a love story and I was caught up in it, but would have liked to have known more of the characters emotions. At times, I felt they were too distant for me to really get involved in their story. I admired Greta for her love, support and devotion of her husband, even when he was Lili. I also felt for Lili, because I know it must have been difficult and exhausting to feel the way she did.
I enjoyed The Danish Girl even though I found it a little plodding at times. I had to know what was going to happen to Einer, though, and have found myself googling him ever since I read the book.
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that she has been wearing. Einer discovers that he enjoys it and finds himself dressing as “Lili” more and more often. Greta even encourages it at first.When Einer is dressed as Lili, he’s completely transformed and it seems that Lili is beginning to take over his life, and it’s even beginning to affect Einer’s health. Greta, and her twin brother Carlisle, seek a solution by speaking to every doctor they can think of. Greta thinks she’s found the answer, and encourages Einer to seek help.
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff is loosely based on the story of Einer Wegener, a Danish artist who lived from 1882 to 1931. I was a little confused at the beginning of the book when Lili was referred to as she (since Lili is actually a man dressed as a woman at that point), until I realized that Einer actually felt like a she when he was dressed as Lili.
I don’t want to give too much away, but the story of Einer Wegner is fascinating. I had no idea that there were people as open to the ideas presented in this book during the early part of the 20th century.
Deep down inside, this book is a love story and I was caught up in it, but would have liked to have known more of the characters emotions. At times, I felt they were too distant for me to really get involved in their story. I admired Greta for her love, support and devotion of her husband, even when he was Lili. I also felt for Lili, because I know it must have been difficult and exhausting to feel the way she did.
I enjoyed The Danish Girl even though I found it a little plodding at times. I had to know what was going to happen to Einer, though, and have found myself googling him ever since I read the book.
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LibraryThing member allthesedarnbooks
I loved this book. It's beautifully written and filled with precise, artful descriptions of places and people. Loosely based on a true story, it introduces us to Einar Wegener and his wife, Greta, both artists in 1920s Copenhagen. One day, Greta suggests that Einar help her complete a portrait by
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filling in for her female model. This suggestion opens the door to Einar's repressed past and hidden longings. Einar's transforms into Lili, the woman who has been inside of him all along. Through out this remarkable journey, Greta loves and supports Einar and Lili. While the novel has a lot to say about gender and identity, the most amazing part of it is the love between the two leads. Einar/Lili is a sympathetic character and Greta is even more clearly drawn, a woman of openness, compassion, and unending loyalty and love. The novel moves through Copenhagen, Paris, and Dresden in the 1920s and 30s. The settings are beautifully drawn but it's the portrait of a marriage in flux and the intimacy and trust between two people that makes the book outstanding. Last year, I read Ebershoff's The 19th Wife and I really liked it. The Danish Girl is very different in style and content, shorter and more straightforward, sticking to a conventional narrative structure. Sometimes simplicity is the best and, in my opinion, The Danish Girl is a much stronger novel than The 19th Wife. It's a breathtaking, bittersweet, and lovely novel, and I highly recommend it. Five stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member pussreboots
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff is a fictionalized account of Einar Wegener's transformation into Lili Eiber. When the model for his wife's current painting fails to show, Einar agrees to don the costume and pose in her place. And then he begins to realize he's more comfortable being a woman.
The book is set in Finland and in Pasadena, in flashback. Einar's wife was raised in Pasadena, California. I enjoyed seeing the city at the turn of the last century, through the early 1920s, through her memories. Her emersion in the California school of art (plein air painting of sweeping landscapes in bold colors) played against Einar's small, subdued landscapes that he had fallen out of habit of painting. Through their artwork, then, their relationship and personalities are introduced and explored.
I read The Danish Girl in the same weeks as Parrotfish — a YA novel about a female to male transgender teen. The striking difference between the two is the level of support Lili receives from her wife and their friends. How much support the actual Lili received, I don't know. As a story of support in a potentially difficult stage of life — it's a lovely novel.
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Soon he is spending most of his time as Lili Eiber.The book is set in Finland and in Pasadena, in flashback. Einar's wife was raised in Pasadena, California. I enjoyed seeing the city at the turn of the last century, through the early 1920s, through her memories. Her emersion in the California school of art (plein air painting of sweeping landscapes in bold colors) played against Einar's small, subdued landscapes that he had fallen out of habit of painting. Through their artwork, then, their relationship and personalities are introduced and explored.
I read The Danish Girl in the same weeks as Parrotfish — a YA novel about a female to male transgender teen. The striking difference between the two is the level of support Lili receives from her wife and their friends. How much support the actual Lili received, I don't know. As a story of support in a potentially difficult stage of life — it's a lovely novel.
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LibraryThing member AnnikaBirgitta
Loved this book. Beautifully written and what a great story. I had no previous knowledge of Einer Wegener and his sex change. Loved the description of the artistic world that this books is set in. This would make a great Book Club choice as there are many topics to linger and discuss. Looking
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forward to seeing the movie. Show Less
LibraryThing member lucybrown
Will add later this week.
LibraryThing member lucybrown
Will add later this week.
LibraryThing member lucybrown
Will add later this week.
LibraryThing member amandrake
Excellent novel, based on the true story of one of the first transgender surgeries ever. This husband & wife were way ahead of their time in terms of communication, understanding, and acceptance.
LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
I loved this book. I didn't know anything about Einar Wegener and his wife Greta. While this is a fictionalized version of a true story, it's just incredible. Einar was one of the first transgender people and had the surgeries in the very early 1930s. Can you even imagine having this kind of
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surgery in the 30s? This is the remarkable story of Lili Elbe being literally born out of the body and soul of Einar Wegener with the love and support of his wife. They are both artists which just adds so much to the story. I know that I will be spending a lot of time on Google learning more about these incredible people. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member KarenHerndon
Absolutely beautiful book.
If writing could be called gorgeous that's what I'd say about this - its a gorgeously written book.
I had previously read his The 19th Wife, which I liked, but it holds no candle to this one in my opinion.
I feel like it was written in whispers, softly- just to draw me
If writing could be called gorgeous that's what I'd say about this - its a gorgeously written book.
I had previously read his The 19th Wife, which I liked, but it holds no candle to this one in my opinion.
I feel like it was written in whispers, softly- just to draw me
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closer to Lili and Greta so that I would fall in love with them- and I did. Show Less
LibraryThing member jovemako
I liked this book. I've been curious about the movie for a while now. (still haven't seen it. I am going to soon though.) I related more to Greta than anyone out of the book as I was once in a similar position. The man in my case wasn't my husband but an ex who I had remained good friends with. I
I'd recommend it for a good read.
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remember helping her out with her transition- helping her pick out clothes, waiting in the hospital for her to come out of surgery, etc. I did like the story over all even though I haven't decided if I liked the ending or not. Partially because I know the non-fiction story of Lili Elbe and how that worked out for her. I'd recommend it for a good read.
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LibraryThing member mamashepp
I wavered on my rating for this one--I may yet change it to a 4. Such a unique story, such interesting characters. For the most part I found it really well written, although it occasionally dragged and was periodically repetitive.
LibraryThing member mamashepp
I wavered on my rating for this one--I may yet change it to a 4. Such a unique story, such interesting characters. For the most part I found it really well written, although it occasionally dragged and was periodically repetitive.
LibraryThing member SqueakyChu
Greta is a woman of a wealthy California background who goes to Denmark to study art and there falls in love with Einar, a man who increasingly considers himself to be female. It is Greta who encourages her then husband to dress in women's clothing as she brings about her own artistic success from
This may sound like a bizarre story, but it's exquisitely written in a way that celebrates the love between Greta and Einar/Lili. As the couple travels between Denmark, France, and Germany, we fear for their relationship and, even more, for Lili's health as she suffers from mysterious bleeding episodes, becomes hauntingly thin, and endures several sex-changing operations. Though this book has a difficult theme, it is handled with tact and aplomb.
In the end, I felt that this was a sad story. That individuals who love one another have to change their station in life due to circumstances beyond their control and to endure emotional issues that are directly related to physical issues also beyond their control is distressing. The ending of this story left me with that deep kind of sadness.
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the outstanding paintings she does of him in his female persona of Lili.This may sound like a bizarre story, but it's exquisitely written in a way that celebrates the love between Greta and Einar/Lili. As the couple travels between Denmark, France, and Germany, we fear for their relationship and, even more, for Lili's health as she suffers from mysterious bleeding episodes, becomes hauntingly thin, and endures several sex-changing operations. Though this book has a difficult theme, it is handled with tact and aplomb.
In the end, I felt that this was a sad story. That individuals who love one another have to change their station in life due to circumstances beyond their control and to endure emotional issues that are directly related to physical issues also beyond their control is distressing. The ending of this story left me with that deep kind of sadness.
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LibraryThing member EvelynBernard
The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff is a work of fiction loosely based on the true story of Lili Elbe who began life as the artist Einar Wegenar and his wife, the artist Gerda Wegenar (Greta in the book). Einar was one of the first men to undergo several sex change operations in the 1930's and the
It's touching and poignant in all the right ways and deals honestly with a loving and, ultimately, healthy relationship.
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book tells the story of Einar's transformation into Lili, the loving support she received from her wife and a number of friends and family members. It deals very sensitively with the realization of her sexuality and her sex change, the impact it had on their marriage.It's touching and poignant in all the right ways and deals honestly with a loving and, ultimately, healthy relationship.
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LibraryThing member LARA335
Accomplished writing, though I found the detailed descriptions of everything a bit wearing. Fascinating imagining, loosely based on the story of a pioneer of transgender realignment. A husband sensitively supported and encouraged by his wife to discover his/her true identity.
But 'Lili' as
The ending was also dreamlike and vague, and so I resorted to Wikipedia to find out what actually happened to the real Danish Girl.
But 'Lili' as
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characterised in the novel was so passive, vague, dreamy and unquestioning that I found it hard to reconcile that such an unfocused individual had the determination to go through such extreme, untested surgeries.The ending was also dreamlike and vague, and so I resorted to Wikipedia to find out what actually happened to the real Danish Girl.
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LibraryThing member karenvg3
This was another book that I read due to the movie that is out. I enjoyed it, but wasn't really happy with the ending. It left me unsettled and with lots of questions. I'm very interested in the movie.
LibraryThing member CarrieWuj
Interesting, well-written, lots of psychological levels here....Set in 1925-30 Europe (Copenhagen, Paris, Dresden) it is the story of Greta and Einar Wegener, 2 artists each with an interesting past the other doesn't know much about. When Greta's portrait subject, an opera singer, can't make her
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pose appointment, Greta recruits her husband Einar to put on her dress and shoes and pose instead. A whole tidal wave of change is set in motion with that simple act. Einar begins to dress as a woman more frequently and even assumes a name for him/herself in that role: Lily. Eventually he wants to actually become Lily and German Dr. Boulk takes on the sex change surgery which is revolutionary at the time. This is a long, slow process and to see Greta and Einar's relationship evolve along with Einar's transformation is very touching. She is 100% supportive even though it means losing her husband. Things become complicated too (what a tangled web we weave) when Greta starts to paint Lily and begins to have international success as an artist. Einar's career had been the successful one prior to this. And his creative energy is now channeled inward as he becomes a new person. Another layer of complication is the introduction of Hans, Einar's boyhood friend (and crush) who is an art dealer, represents Greta's work, but also has designs on her. Though this is all very soap-opera-ish it doesn't come across that way due to the deft and understated story telling. What was surprising (and hard to swallow) was the acceptance in that time period of Einar's transformation. Yes, they are bohemian artists, and yes, this is Europe, but Nazism is on the rise in Germany and there are still so many sexual taboos in that era. Greta's twin brother, Carlisle is wholly supportive as is Hans and Anna, the opera singer, not to mention all Dr. Boulk's affiliations. When Lily wants to undergo a final surgery to have a uterus implanted and possibly bear children, some of that support wavers, especially Greta's. She is not objecting to the surgery itself, but Lily's weakness and ability to survive it. The ending is rather ambiguous if symbolic and left me wanting more. Part Pygmalion, part Icarus, it is still a fascinating, well done look at the need to be true to self and the grace of others to accept it. Show Less
LibraryThing member AngelaLam
Fantastic view of the interior life of a marriage and how unconditional love can lead to unregretable loss when one spouse discovers his or her identity.
LibraryThing member INeilC
A beautifully written story of the first transgender patient, exploring the emtional journey of not only the patient but also their wife. Also includes author's notes, and book club questions.
Subjects
Awards
Lambda Literary Award (Winner — 2000)
Stonewall Book Award (Honor Book — Literature — 2001)
Otherwise Award (Shortlist — 2000)
Young Lions Fiction Award (Finalist — 2001)
Language
Original publication date
2000
Physical description
270 p.; 20 inches
ISBN
0140298487 / 9780140298482