A review by marc129
A Change of Time by Ida Jessen

4.0

This is a little gem that, apparently, is not widely read yet. Danish author Ida Jessen (°1964) has only written a limited oeuvre, but judging by this book, she is certainly worth keeping an eye on. In itself, this are no more than diary entries by Fru Bagge, Mrs Bagge, maiden name Lilly, from approximately 1927 to 1934. The start seems dramatic: her husband Vigand, a widely respected doctor, dies and Lilly – who had devoted her entire life to him – does not seem to know what to do. But from the very beginning it is clear that there was quite a distance between the two and that Vigand in particular was a cold, distant man, almost gruesomely so. The diary entries are a mixture of flashbacks to their special marriage (she was 20 years younger than him), sometimes bitter musings about what she really wanted in life and did not get, and considerations on building a new life as a widow. In other words: this is highly introspective. Lilly is a very observant, thoughtful woman who accepts her fate, but ultimately – after deep thought – retains enough strength to get back on her feet. Just look at this truly fabulous quote, which should be close to many of us: “Bitterness is a very soft and comfortable armchair from which it is difficult indeed to extract oneself once one has decided to settle in it.” Indirectly, this book gives us an idea of the sober life in the Danish countryside at the beginning of the 20th century (including the introduction of elements of modernity). But it is mainly the struggle of women with social conventions, their attempts to give their lives fulfillment, that are central. Jessen writes soberly and minimalistic, perhaps deliberately so, because that modesty makes this book extra powerful. Only the sudden twist in the final chapter, a kind of deus ex machina, disappointed me slightly. But this book and this writer are definitely a discovery.