Seven Gothic Tales
Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) · 1885–1962 · Denmark
Why it matters
Seven ornate, aristocratic fables of masquerade, fate, and desire, told in a voice deliberately out of step with modernist fashion. Dinesen's debut announced a stylist unlike anyone else writing in English.
At a glance
short story collectiongothic
Difficulty 6/10slow pace420 pagesOrnate, archaic diction deliberately at odds with plain modernist style.
Where to go next
Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) · 1937Out of AfricaLvl 5Slow burn
Sigrid Undset · 1920Kristin LavransdatterLvl 6Slow burn
Johannes V. Jensen · 1922The Long JourneyLvl 6Medium pace
Frans Eemil Sillanpää · 1931The Maid SiljaLvl 4Medium pace
Halldór Laxness · 1934Independent PeopleLvl 6Medium pace
Henrik Pontoppidan · 1904Lucky PerLvl 6Medium pace