Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Baroness Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke: Karen Blixen
(born Dinesen; 17 April 1885 – 7 September 1962) was a Danish author who wrote works in Danish and English.
She is also known under her pen names Isak Dinesen, used in English-speaking countries, Tania Blixen, used in German-speaking countries.

She was an extraordinary woman, an unstoppable female, a vain eccentric, and a very sensitive human being, whose life was characterized by great ups as well as great downs. She was a major contradiction. In her life, Karen Blixen conquered artistically, but lost in love; she never had any children, lived in financial turmoil, and suffered from depressions.

Eneboerne (The Hermits), August 1907, published in Danish in Tilskueren under the pen name Osceola)
Pløjeren (The Ploughman), October 1907, published in Danish in Gads danske Magasin, under the name Osceola)
Familien de Cats (The De Cats Family), January 1909, published in Danish in Tilskueren under the name Osceola)
Sandhedens hævn – En marionetkomedie, May 1926, published in Danish in Tilskueren, under the name of Karen Blixen-Finecke; an English translation by Donald Hannah titled The Revenge of Truth: A Marionette Comedy was published in Performing Arts Journal in 1986
Seven Gothic Tales (1934 in the United States, 1935 in Denmark)
Out of Africa (1937 in Denmark and England, 1938 in the United States)
Winter's Tales (1942)
The Angelic Avengers (1946)
Last Tales (1957)[109]
Anecdotes of Destiny (1958) (including Babette's Feast)
Shadows on the Grass (1960 in England and Denmark, 1961 in the United States)
Ehrengard (posthumous 1963, United States)

Any one thinking about any of these or others?
Her different Pen Names makes me wonder what her thought process was for them.

Ordering Shadows on the Grass and I have Out of Africa.
Will hope to get to at least one of these.

I've read both and look forward to reading your thoughts, Lesle.

Thanks Rosemarie, hopefully the book arrives soon and I can start this weekend.

Any Member thinking about reading any of Dinesen's works?

I just got Anecdotes of Destiny from the library. I’ll be starting soon.

I am waiting for Out of Africa, on hold at the library.

Kathy wrote: "I just got Anecdotes of Destiny from the library. I’ll be starting soon."

Seems like this would be interesting 5 short stories!

I am starting to read Out of Africa later this evening right before bedtime...bad idea I know!

My cover:
Within the trees and leaves are birds and animals. Eland, Giraffe, Flamingo, Monkey and and Elephant along with others. They are a sketch almost without much detail.

I started last night but as I predicted I found myself sleepy so only a few pages in, but! The mountains and the valley's description
is quite beautiful and more than I thought of the land in Africa. The first shipment of coffee beans were sent out to the auction.

Seven Gothic Tales are simply beautiful. Highly recommended.

Baroness Blixen seems to be a very caring person towards the natives.
Why has she gone to Africa? Question I cannot figure as of yet.

I think she followed her husband, who is a shadowy presence in her books. They didn't get along.

Here's what an "about the author" says on my book, Anecdotes of Destiny:

The author of Anecdotes of Destiny was married to a cousin, Baron Blixen, in 1914 and went with him to British East Africa, where they established and successfully operated a coffee plantation. In 1921 she was divorced from her husband, but continued to manage the plantation for another ten years, until the collapse of the coffee market forced her to sell her property and go back to Denmark.

Interesting as so far I have not run across him as of yet. Maybe soon.

The native way of justice is just making peace between the parties. Some believe Karen is the final Judge.

Have you come across Dennis, Lesle? He was very important in her life.

I think Denys comes up in the next book. The Visitors, as I seen his name as I flipped pages.
I like to look forward to how long each section is so I know whether to stop in a good place or not. Weird I know.

I read Out of Africa a couple years ago and found it fascinating. There's a 1985 movie starring Meryl Streep, Robert Redford and Klaus Maria Brandauer (as Baron Blixen).

Thanks Kathy for the movie information!

I havent been able to read at lunch as I have no lunch right now. We are too busy at work. Hopefully soon I can squeeze some time in soon.

I finished Anecdotes of Destiny. I liked the stories "Babette's Feast" and "The Immortal Story." Both of these stories have had movies made of them, Babette's in 1987 and Immortal in 1968.

Isak Dinesen has a way of writing in these stories that make them like parables or fables.

I finished Out of Africa last week.

Karen's descriptions of Africa and how she writes is just beautiful.
She draws you in with her writing.

My review if interested:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...