Definitely, this is the best short story collection I have ever read. Usually, short stories tend to give the impression of being incomplete and rushed. However, these stories are completely different. They are more like fables that carry profound meanings and lessons.

I have a particular penchant for the story within a story format employed in some of the tales. It adds an extra layer of complexity and intrigue. Additionally, the use of metaphor and colour is truly remarkable. It enriches the narrative and makes the stories come alive in the reader's mind.

The Young Man with the Carnation and Peter and Rosa are my absolute favourites. The characters in these stories are vividly portrayed, and the plots are engaging and thought-provoking. Nevertheless, all the stories in this collection are interesting and offer unique perspectives on various aspects of life.

Short story collections are often inconsistent.

Some stories have the power to make you want to read them over and over again, while others leave you completely uninterested.

Fortunately, this particular collection leans towards the former.

Dinesen's writing is simply beautiful, absolutely stunning.

Take, for example, this passage from "The Sailor-Boy's Tale": "It was April, the sky and sea were so clear that it was difficult to hold one's eyes up against them - salt, infinitely wide, and filled with bird-shrieks - as if someone were incessantly whetting invisible knives, on all sides, high up in Heaven."

Her words paint such a vivid picture that I can't wait to explore more of her work.

Another aspect that struck me about these stories is that I believe I have finally discovered an author whose love for the ocean is boundless.

It's like being an alien and suddenly finding another of your kind.

Every time she writes about the sea with such reverence, it resonates deep within me, as if a light is calling me home to the hearth.

Overall, this collection has truly captured my heart and imagination.

Some of the stories were a bit difficult, but all of them had something slightly abstract, traditional, and almost fantastic that I liked.

The ending of all of them was surprising, an open ending that leaves room for imagination.

However, I give 3 stars because some of them were rather hard to grasp, to get into the story, even if they were nice afterwards.

The language and the concepts in those stories required more effort to understand and engage with. But once I managed to break through that initial barrier, I was able to appreciate the unique qualities and the charm that each story had to offer.

Overall, it was a mixed experience, with both challenges and rewards.

I wasn't entirely certain what to anticipate from this compilation of short stories penned by Isak Dinesen (also known as Karen Blixen, the Danish author widely renowned for writing "Out of Africa"). However, they were simply enchanting. Now, I have an insatiable desire to read everything she has written.

The stories are set in the late 19th or early 20th century. Sometimes they take place in Denmark, but not solely. They possess a fairytale or fable-like otherworldliness. Her adeptness at rapidly constructing the world of the story and her surgically precise and crisp descriptions render each story unique and captivating.

Dinesen was in her mid-50s when these stories were published in 1941, during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. Several of the stories echo that particular moment in history. I highly recommend this collection. It offers a glimpse into a bygone era, filled with magic, mystery, and profound human emotions. The beauty of Dinesen's writing lies in her ability to transport the reader to another world, making it a truly unforgettable experience.

Old fashioned, but unfortunately not in a favorable sense. The prose is sluggish, lacking the vitality and flow that would engage the reader. The characters seem to orate rather than have natural conversations, making it difficult to truly connect with them. Moreover, there is a distinct lack of action, which leaves the story feeling stagnant.

Another issue is the author's excessive preoccupation with the upper classes. In "Sorrow-Acre", the heartrending tale of an old peasant woman's desperate attempt to save her son from a life sentence in prison should be at the forefront. However, instead, it mainly consists of the philosophical musings of a wealthy landowner, detracting from the emotional core of the story.

The only redeeming factor is the excellent "The Young Man With the Carnation". Nevertheless, this single outstanding story is not sufficient to prevent me from donating the book to Goodwill. Overall, it is a disappointment that fails to live up to its potential.

Mēs ar Bliksenu runājam dažādās valodās. Tā ir tik daudzveidīga un interesanta, ka mēs varam izteikt dažādus jautājumus un apspriest dažādus tematus. Savs skaistums viņas stāstos ir gan diezgan īpašs. Kad viņa runā, mēs varam redzēt visu to, ko viņa stāsta, kā arī viņas emocijas un izjūtas. Viņa stāsti ir kā mājas, kurās mēs varam atdzisties un atdzist visu, kas pārāk daudz iepriekšējā dienā. Mēs ļoti patīk runāt ar Bliksenu, jo viņa ir tik daudzveidīga un interesanta, un viņas stāsti ir tik skaisti un emocionāli, ka mēs vienmēr atceramies tos.

The reading process was very slow and laborious.

The stories had a deeply philosophical undertone, with vivid and detailed descriptions, minor events, and a way of thinking of the heroes that might not always be understandable and "on the nose" for the modern reader.

In my opinion, the stories ranged from 1* to 4* stars. My impression, when reading this book, was 2* (it wouldn't be in my personal library, unfortunately, and I ended up not finishing it).

The translation is fantastic - I take off my hat to Peter Jankavs!

Undoubtedly and respecting the excellent talent and wisdom of the Danish classic, I still can't give a high overall rating.

This is a compilation of poetic and sorrowful tales that seemingly take place in 19th century Europe. However, most of them possess a timeless quality. I cannot claim to have relished every single one of them. Yet, they do indeed have a magical charm that reminds one of Maupassant and Oscar Wilde. The particular tale that will remain etched in my memory is 'Sorrow-Acre'. It offers a beautiful portrayal of the Danish countryside and the atmosphere of 'Realismo Magico' surrounding the sacrifice of a mother.

also has my favorite beginning.
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 lifting from the valleys and hollows. The air was cool, and the grass and the foliage were dripping wet with morning dew. Unwatched by the eyes of man, undisturbed by his activity, the country breathed a timeless life, to which language was inadequate.
All the same, a human race had lived on this land for a thousand years. It had been shaped by its soil and weathers and had left its mark with its thoughts. So now, no one could tell where the existence of the one ceased and that of the other began. The thin grey line of a road, winding across the plain and up and down hills, was the fixed materialization of human longing and the human notion that it were better to be in one place than another.

This description sets the stage perfectly, drawing the reader into a world that is both beautiful and melancholy.

I read this book during a short trip to Denmark.

The reason was that I hoped to visit Karen Blixen's home/museum located outside Copenhagen.

As I delved into the short stories in "Winter's Tales", many of which were set in Denmark and often a century before she penned them, I found myself completely immersed in the characters and the surprising twists within her tales.

This made my visit to her home truly special!

I walked through the forest surrounding her house, and I deeply appreciated that she had left instructions for it to be a bird sanctuary.

I also stood under a huge beech tree where she is laid to rest.

Years ago, after reading "Out of Africa", I had visited her home/museum outside Nairobi.

Karen Blixen was an incredibly multitalented and thoughtful woman.

She created stunning homes that were filled with art, including her own paintings, interesting furniture, and vases brimming with flowers cut from her own gardens.

Her homes were not just places to live but expressions of her creativity and love for beauty.

Visiting these places allowed me to catch a glimpse into her remarkable life and the world she had created.

It was an experience that I will always cherish.

Written in 1942 during the German occupation of Denmark, the Danish writer Dinesen, who is a nom de plume for Baroness Karen Blixen, weaves exquisitely rich tapestries that are her short stories. She firmly believes in the power of myth, romance, and medieval fable as bulwarks against the bleak “wintry” landscape of WWII. In those dark times, her stories served as a source of hope and inspiration. They transported readers to different worlds, filled with magic and wonder. Dinesen's writing style was unique, captivating the hearts and minds of her audience. Her stories were not just entertainment but also a means of escape from the harsh reality of the war. Through her words, she created a beautiful and enchanting universe that provided solace and comfort to those who needed it the most.

A collection of stories that has captured me and made me immerse in reading.

Karen Blixen was an artist in describing, or rather painting, with words the Nordic landscapes and in delving deep into the human soul.

On the fourth cover is reported a quote from another collection of the author, "Carnival and Other Posthumous Stories":

To be able to transform the events of one's life into a story is a great joy: perhaps the only happiness that a human being can experience on this earth.

Reading the biography of the author, I thought exactly this: how much of her life is present in these pages?

The book opens and closes with two stories, "The Young Man with the Carnation" and "A Consoling Story", in which the protagonist, Charlie, is a writer struggling with a lack of inspiration and under pressure due to the great expectations of the public and literary critics.

In the story "The Pearls", an officer of the guards and his twenty-year-old bride, the daughter of a rich merchant, go on a honeymoon trip to Norway, a romantic adventure in a desolate and wild land, where the woman does not however find the support of her young husband. Indeed, it is he, a fearless man who "totally ignored the law of gravity" "in a world of peaks and unheard-of abysses", dedicated to gambling, the cause of her agitation.

I found touching the stories "The Field of Sorrow" in which the love and sacrifice of a mother for her son are exalted, "The Boy Who Dreamed" where the author compares the world of the rich with that of the poor through the existence of a "Poet" boy dreamer, who does not see this difference.

Finally, "Peter and Rosa" in which the protagonist is the adolescent love of two cousins in a fascinating Nordic landscape.

Another fine collection of tales from Isak Dinesen.

In my opinion, it is not as strong overall as Seven Gothic Tales. However, "Sorrow-acre" is truly outstanding.

More than half of the tales are at least four stars.

The Young Man with the Carnation earns 4 stars. It is a captivating story that draws the reader in.

"Sorrow-acre" gets a perfect 5 stars. It is a powerful and moving tale that leaves a lasting impression.

The Heroine also receives 4 stars. It has an engaging plot and well-developed characters.

The Sailor-boy's Tale is rated 3 stars. While it has its moments, it doesn't quite reach the same level as some of the other tales.

The Pearls is given 3.5 stars. It is an interesting story with a unique premise.

The Invincible Slave-owners earns 4.5 stars. It is a thought-provoking and intense tale.

The Dreaming Child is rated 3.5 stars. It has a dreamlike quality that adds to its charm.

Alkmene gets 4 stars. It is a well-written and engaging story.

The Fish is given 3.5 stars. It is a short but sweet tale.

Peter and Rosa earns 4 stars. It is a heartwarming story that will appeal to many readers.

A Consolatory Tale also receives 4 stars. It provides a sense of comfort and hope.

Overall, this collection of tales is a worthy addition to Isak Dinesen's body of work.