New Danish biography of Erik Bruhn

[Alexandra]

Eva Kistrup has a review in her blog of a new biography (so far only in Danish) of Erik Bruhn by the Danish critic, Alexander Meinertz. It's a very good summary of the book (and, I think, an interesting review):

The Son of the Black Queen

[Jane Simpson]

Eva Kistrup has a review in her blog of a new biography (so far only in Danish) of Erik Bruhn by the Danish critic, Alexander Meinertz. It's a very good summary of the book (and, I think, an interesting review):

An interesting review, indeed.

I saw this book on sale in Copenhagen this week - it's a handsome production and the photographs are easily worth the price even if you don't read a word of Danish. (I didn't buy it because I couldn't possibly carry one more thing home - next time I'll buy it first!) Bruhn in his prime was quite astonishingly beautiful.

[Alexandra]

Astonishingly beautiful indeed. And, as Kistrup points out in her review, a very hard worker and a self-made dancer (odd, for someone from a major institution, but his development as an artist took place mostly outside of Denmark, and under his own direction). If anyone knew what he wanted to achieve, went after it, worked like hell and got it, it's Bruhn. Obviously the talent had to be there, but he didn't waste a lot of time waiting for someone to turn him into an artist, or a star.

I hope this will be in English one day.

[canbelto]

A good review indeed. For those who have read the book though, I'm curious about the theory that Bruhn was sexually abused by his mother. What evidence does Meinertz have? In all the writings I've read of Bruhn his tyrannical overbearing mother has been mentioned, but the sexual abuse allegation is new.

[dirac]

A good review indeed. For those who have read the book though, I'm curious about the theory that Bruhn was sexually abused by his mother. What evidence does Meinertz have? In all the writings I've read of Bruhn his tyrannical overbearing mother has been mentioned, but the sexual abuse allegation is new.

Yes, Kistrup says 'the case is strong' but doesn't mention anything apart from the short story. (I also tend to a certain automatic suspicion of these Blame Mom for All scenarios -- they are often somewhat unjust on a second look.) I'm sure Meinertz knows what he's doing, of course.

odd, for someone from a major institution, but his development as an artist took place mostly outside of Denmark, and under his own direction

Kistrup seems to suggest that much of his independence derived from the alleged incest, so it looks like that will be a central issue.

[Alexandra]

I've read parts of this book. I don't think it's a Tell All Gossip!!!! Book and the matter of Bruhn's mother is not the major issue, but presented as important in understanding him. It will be much talked about, especially in Denmark (see Kistrup's title) because Bruhn is a huge personality there still, and it's true that this issue has not been written about before (as far as I know). In addition to Bruhn's short novel, Meinertz conducted interviews with Bruhn's family members and friends to arrive at the conclusion that there was abuse.

[bart]

I'm looking forward to this book very much, especially since I'm reading -- and have been much impressed by -- Meinertz's biography of Volkova.

According to Meinertz's website, an English translation of the Bruhn book is in the works:

His biography of Danish dancer Erik Bruhn was published by Schoenbergske in March 2008 and apart from an English-language translation of that book, he's currently researching the life of the writer and social critic P.A. Heiberg who was exiled from his native Denmark in 1800 and spent 47 years in Paris where he's buried at the Montmartre cemetery.