Halfway through "The Heroine" (a collection about French ex-pats imprisoned during a 19th-century conflict between France and Germany), I had a profound realization. These stories were penned in Nazi-occupied Denmark.

And then, it dawned on me that the cold wind of history was blowing through these intricate tales. Especially the harrowing "Sorrow Acre" sent shivers down my spine. However, these stories are not just bleak ruminations from Dineson's strange and erudite mind. They are surprising and unpredictable.

These works resemble short stories or tales (ranging from 10 to 20 pages) more closely than the dense novellas of "Seven Gothic Tales". They offer similar reflections on identity, defiance, story-telling, and history, all set in the fantastical world that she creates out of 19th-century Europe. While nothing here is as amazing as "The Monkey" or "The Dreamers", some, like "Sorrow Acre", come quite close.

Overall, "The Heroine" is a captivating collection that showcases Dineson's unique storytelling abilities and her ability to transport readers to a different time and place.

In a word - magic!

Here are 11 short stories that have the remarkable ability to draw you in quickly. Dinesen truly has a gift. From the very outset, she can spark your interest in her characters and pull you into another world. What's more, she makes you linger there long after the tale is over. *Sigh*

Most of these stories are set in the author's native land, Denmark, sometime in the past. Frequently, it's the 19th century, though one story even takes us as far back as the 13th. You can strongly feel Dinesen's nostalgia for her country and its people, which is a big part of the spell these tales cast. There's more charm in the folk-tale quality of many of the tales, both in the events that are recounted and in the way they unfold.

Each of the tales reads well on its own, but there is also a unity of theme in the collection. One biographer sums up the whole in the notion of 'longing'. I would add that the various protagonists' reaction to longing, particularly when wrestling with forces that oppress, is a much explored element throughout.

My favorite story? "Peter and Rosa" is a beautiful and sensitive narrative about two young people. Their worlds, both inner and outer, are opening up, but also coming together in an unexpected and unforgettable way.

This is a must-read set of stories for Dinesen enthusiasts. It's not just for their own sake, but also because they are the author's own favorite.

I have a profound love for her vivid descriptions of nature.

In her works, the snowy night in Paris is depicted in such a captivating way that it seems to bring the city back to its natural state. Notre Dame looms large, more like a mysterious cliff in the darkness.

However, the "time when all the world was blue" in the first story is truly the most enchanting. That story within a story holds a special place in my heart and is my absolute favorite among all of them.

Another delightful aspect of these stories is her巧妙的allusions to the Bible and Shakespeare. She manages to turn these well-known references into her own original perspectives, adding a unique layer of depth and interest.

These stories are truly very much like winter's tales. They are filled with mystery and often inscrutable in ways that are both fascinating and a little frustrating, but always worthy of deep thought and pondering.

Yet, aside from trying to decipher the possible meanings within the stories, I simply relish the experience of listening to the talented story-teller weave her magic.

I did not enjoy this collection as much as her “Last Tales”.

In fact, if it weren't for one particular story, the review would have been a solid three stars.

The stories in this collection, while well-written, didn't quite have the same impact and charm as those in her previous work.

However, the inclusion of the stunning “Peter and Rosa” completely changed my perspective.

This story is a masterpiece that stands out among the others.

The characters are vividly drawn, and the plot is engaging and full of surprises.

The way the author weaves the tale is truly remarkable, and it had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

For this reason alone, this collection is worth the highest of ratings.

It's a must-read for fans of the author and anyone who appreciates great storytelling.

Karen Blixen, writing under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen, is a cherished Danish writer. I first read her book Out of Africa many years ago and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Ever since, I've wanted to read more of her works. When four of her books were recently republished in beautiful new editions, I knew it was the perfect time to do so.

I really liked this collection of short stories. However, the first challenge was getting used to the rather old-fashioned language, which in some places was even archaic. It could be very formal and stiff, but that also became part of its charm. After all, it was written in a different era when this type of language was normal. It was interesting to get a glimpse into that time period through the stories.

The stories themselves also provided a window into an older Denmark. I was surprised to see that in some ways, it wasn't so different from other countries at that time, especially when it came to the aristocracy, who were often the main characters in Blixen's stories.

Some of my favorite stories in the collection were 'Peter and Rosa', 'The Story of a Pearl', and 'Heloïse'. However, there were also some stories that I didn't quite understand, like 'Alkmene'. And some of the stories seemed to have loose ends that were never fully resolved.

One thing that I did get tired of was the long, philosophical dialogues and speeches in many of the stories. It seemed like almost all of the characters were constantly seeking a higher truth or discussing some profound idea. While it was interesting at times, it also felt a bit overdone and slowed down the pace of the stories.

Overall, I would recommend this collection of stories. It was an enjoyable read that provided a unique perspective on an earlier time period. While it wasn't perfect, it was still a worthwhile addition to my bookshelf. I'm sure I'll be reading more of Karen Blixen's works in the future.

3.5 stars /NK

Ordinarily, I'm not very fond of short stories. However, this collection was truly remarkable. It was so sparkling and engrossing that it made me completely forget all my disinclination for the genre. Isak Dineson is a new author to me, and this book, with its crisp and dazzling prose and its eleven rich and perplexing stories, has instantly made me an ardent admirer.

Reading the whole volume takes some time because each tale is like an exquisite and elegant feast that compels one to savor and digest it fully before moving on to the next. You simply cannot binge these stories!

Most of the stories are set in the 19th century, and one is set in the medieval period. Most of them read as "broadly European," not unlike the sorts of stories you might find in the Anglophone or French world, while a few seem very Danish. We encounter a diverse cast of characters, including landowners, peasants, sailors, scholars, parsons, orphans, and kings. There is a strong spiritual and philosophical undercurrent running through all the tales. The characters invariably find themselves at a crossroads and strive to discern, in profoundly yet subtly Christian terms, the proper way forward. And do they find it? Usually, the story ends enigmatically, inviting us to work out the puzzle ourselves.

I am extremely eager to reread this volume as it truly invites rereading and discussion! I also look forward to becoming better acquainted with this author, who most definitely deserves to be ranked among the best writers of the 20th century.

I've always had a resistance towards short stories. One of the main reasons, I believe, is that I simply don't enjoy having such a brief acquaintance with the characters. "Winter's Tales" has indeed confirmed my fears and suspicions regarding this very issue. I would often finish a story while lying in bed at night, only to wake up the next morning and remember absolutely nothing. It's not just about who the characters were, but also about the why, when, where, and how of the story.

Moreover, there seem to be numerous musings by the author about the unsolvable mysteries of the human condition that are interwoven throughout. These musings, for some reason, seem to be more subtle when they are sprinkled into a novel.

Nevertheless, as a whole, the book did manage to grow on me. I deliberately forced myself to envision them as actual winter's tales, being recounted by an elderly person sitting around a stone hearth with a fragrant wood-burning fire, in a truly old-school style. This mental image made them sound a great deal better and also made the abrupt endings more acceptable. The yarn comes to an end, nothing is neatly tied up with a bow, and the listeners are left only with the crackle and pop of the logs on the fire, serving as a backdrop to a few moments of pondering about where the story might have led if it had continued, and perhaps even a slight chill up the spine.

Winter’s Tales is a captivating short story collection penned by the Danish writer Karen Blixen, also known as Isak Dinesen, and published in 1942.

These tales were crafted and released during the Nazi occupation of Denmark in World War II, and at times, this historical backdrop can be sensed in their tone. However, with the exception of a couple of stories, they are all set in the 19th century.

An undertone of longing pervades most of the stories. It could be a longing to escape to another place or a longing for love. Many of the love interests in the stories have such intense longing between them, yet nothing ever seems to be fully realized.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories. I had previously read the author’s memoir, Out of Africa, about her time in Africa, and was eager to explore her fiction. She is truly a remarkable writer and storyteller.

The stories all have a folktale-like quality, set in the past in various locations across Europe and Scandinavia. There wasn’t a single story in the entire collection that I didn’t like.

The Sailor-Boy’s Tale is about a boy who saves a peregrine falcon on his ship, only to discover later that it was actually a shape-shifting Lapp woman (now known as the Sami people) who does him a favor in return.

The Young Man with a Carnation is about a writer in Belgium who fears he can’t maintain the esteem he has built for his writing and is only doing it for his ego.

The Pearls is about a newlywed woman on her honeymoon who is determined to make her fearless husband feel fear.

The Invincible Slave-Owners is about a man who falls in love with a girl at a hotel in Germany, only to realize she is not what she seems.

The Heroine is about an Englishman staying in a German hotel during a war between Germany and France, and a young French woman who saves the day.

The Dreaming Child is about a poor orphan boy who dreams of being from a rich and great house and is adopted into one.

Alkmene is about a mysterious adopted girl and her neighbor who falls in love with her.

The Fish is a story set in the Middle Ages following King Erik and his search for satisfaction.

Peter and Rosa is about two cousins who have a complex relationship and a sense of longing and desire.

Sorrow-Acre is about a young man returning to his uncle’s farm in Denmark and the clash of new and old ideas.

A Consolatory Tale is about a writer and his friend in a Parisian cafe discussing the relationship between artists and the public.

I highly recommend this collection of wonderful short stories. It’s perfect for those who love the past, a sense of wistfulness, desire, or longing, or are looking for some excellent Danish literature. Although it’s called Winter’s Tales, there’s nothing particularly wintry about it except perhaps the mood, so you can enjoy it any time of the year.

The low, undulating Danish landscape was silent and serene, mysteriously wide-awake, in the hour before sunrise.

There was not a cloud in the pale sky, not a shadow along the dim, pearly fields, hills and woods. The mist was gently lifting from the valleys and hollows, the air was delightfully cool, and the grass and foliage were dripping wet with the fresh morning dew.

Unwatched by the eyes of man, and undisturbed by his bustling activity, the country seemed to breathe a timeless life, a life to which language was truly inadequate to fully describe.

Blixen’s writing is absolutely breathtaking. She is truly a master of evocative language and storytelling.

She wrote this collection during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. Although there are no direct references to contemporary events in her tales, there is definitely a hint of what she experienced in her deep nostalgia for the land and its people.

The collection contains 11 stories. It’s extremely hard to choose a favorite. However, I found Blixen’s stories with sad endings to be particularly moving.

The quote above comes from the story ‘Sorrow Acre’, and I find the name alone to be simply beautiful! I also adored ‘Peter and Rosa’.

Each of the stories reads well in isolation, but there is a unity of theme in the collection that makes reading them one after another very satisfying and deeply poignant.

Highly recommended - 4 stars from me. Also, I feel like I picked this book up in the winter and finished it in the Spring. What a difference a week makes in the UK!

This is truly an enjoyable piece of storytelling.

It has a charm that is reminiscent of fairy tales, yet it is filled with profound philosophy and is enhanced by the beautiful Northern European scenery that is interwoven throughout.

I have never been a big fan of fairy tales, but Karen Blixen's work has definitely piqued my interest and made me渴望更多.

Her writing style is captivating, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are part of the story.

The way she combines the elements of fantasy, philosophy, and nature is truly masterful.

Each story seems to have a hidden message or lesson that makes you think and reflect.

I can't wait to explore more of her works and discover the wonderful worlds she has created.

I guess the most appropriate word to describe these stories would be haunting.

They alternate between being beautiful, striking, spiritual, or tragic. Some of the individuals populating these pages bring to mind characters from a fairy tale, a Maupassant story, or a Russian novel.

And, of course, the Danish landscape and climate also leave their mark. One detail that caught my attention was that in three of the stories, a fox pauses and looks at a traveler before continuing on, with the traveler providing different levels of notice and commentary.

This makes me wish Dinesen had composed one short tale from the perspective of the fox. It would have been fascinating to see the world through the eyes of this mysterious creature and gain a new understanding of the stories and the settings in which they take place.

Perhaps the fox would have its own unique perspective on the events and characters, adding an interesting layer to the already rich tapestry of Dinesen's work.

Overall, these stories have left a lasting impression on me, and I look forward to exploring more of Dinesen's writing in the future.

A Magical Short Story Collection

Dinesen's short story collection is truly a magical one. She has an extraordinary ability to grasp the undercurrents that run through various situations, settings, and characters. Her writing style is both beautiful and intuitive, much like that of Anais Nin. With each story, she delves deep into the hearts and minds of her characters, revealing their hidden desires, fears, and dreams.

The settings she creates are vivid and atmospheric, transporting the reader to different times and places. Whether it's a lush tropical island or a snowy European landscape, Dinesen makes the reader feel as if they are right there, experiencing everything along with the characters.

As I continue to read more of her works, I am constantly amazed by her talent and creativity. Each story is a gem, filled with wisdom, beauty, and a touch of the mysterious. I highly recommend this collection to anyone who loves to read short stories that are both engaging and thought-provoking.

I can't wait to see what other wonderful stories Dinesen has in store for us.