An Introduction to Danish Culture

by Norman Berdichevsky

Overview

Denmark, the southernmost Nordic nation, remains little-known to many citizens of the world. Too often conflated with its Scandinavian neighbors to the north, it is a land of generally flat terrain, with an inviting temperate climate. The land of the Danes has much to offer visitors, and this guide to Danish society, culture, and history offers an inside look, with details on Denmark's substantial contributions to science, engineering, exploration, seafaring, literature, philosophy, music, architecture, and many other fields. Brief portraits depict such Danes as "Clown Prince" Victor Borge, Hans Christian Andersen, Kierkegaard, and Out of Africa author Karen Blixen. Throughout, there is a focus upon Denmark's human rights record, democratic institutions, and humanistic traditions. By examining Danish culture, this work fosters a greater understanding of Denmark, its people, and their way of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786486526
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	10/10/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	239
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Norman Berdichevsky is a professional translator, writer and lecturer for several major cruise lines. Formerly a lecturer of Judaic studies at the University of Central Florida, he is the author of several books and lives in England.
Norman Berdichevsky is a professional translator, writer and lecturer for several major cruise lines. Formerly a lecturer of Judaic studies at the University of Central Florida, he is the author of several books and lives in England.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface     

PART I. GEOGRAPHY AND ECONOMY
1. The Rise and Fall of the Danish Sea State     
2. Danish Wind Power     
3. Bornholm: Denmark’s Easternmost Baltic Reach     
4. The Faroe Islands: An Ancient Nordic North Atlantic Outpost     
5. “Arctic Denmark”: Greenland Yesterday and Today     
6. How the Danish West Indies Became the U.S. Virgin Islands     
7. The Gågader: Denmark’s Pedestrian Streets     

PART II. LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
8. Jewish Provincial Cemeteries: A Cultural Landmark to Tolerance     
9. Jutland vs. Copenhagen     
10. The Danish Language     
11. The Rebild Celebration, Danish Americans, and U.S.-Denmark Relations     
12. Hygge and Happiness     
13. Food and Drink     

PART III. FAMOUS DANISH PERSONALITIES
14. Piet Hein: Renaissance Man     
15. Victor Borge: The Clown Prince     
16. N.F.S. Grundtvig: Spiritual Father of the Nation     
17. Hans Christian Andersen     
18. Søren Kierkegaard     
19. Arne Sørensen and Danish Unity     
20. Arne Jacobsen: The Father of Danish Design     
21. Tycho Brahe: Astronomer without a Telescope     
22. Niels Bohr and the Copenhagen Mystery     
23. Karen Blixen: From Rungsted to Kenya and Back     
24. Queen Margrethe II     

PART IV. POLITICS AND HISTORY
25. Canute and the Danelaw in England     
26. The German- Danish Border Question, 1815–1919     
27. The German- Danish Border Question, 1920 to the Present     
28. The Yellow Star Legend and Kings Christian X and Boris III     
29. The “Jewish Question” and the Danish Minority in Nazi Germany     
30. The Danish- Swedish Sibling Rivalry     

Bibliography     
Index