A review by checkie
Lucky Per by Henrik Pontoppidan

5.0

I really enjoyed this book. Pontoppidan creates a cast of vivid, interesting and complex characters, not least Per himself as we follow him throughout his life. An interesting take on a typical Bildungsroman, rather than striving to succeed in the artistic world as an artist, a writer or a poet, Per moved from the countryside to cosmopolitan Copenhagen with dreams of becoming an engineer. Through Per's encounters with a variety of vivid characters, Pontoppidan paints a detailed portrait of life in the Danish capital at the turn of the century, and the changing, increasingly industrial and mechanised world that Per lives in. Per's changing relationship with the Christian faith was a particularly interesting and valuable element of the novel that played out into an almost parable-like ending. 

I particularly enjoyed reading the translator's note at the end of the Everyman edition for shedding light on how the novel fits in to the wider Danish literary canon, particularly with relation to the significance and influence of fairytales in Danish literature.

In my opinion this is an unjustly neglected novel that should be recognised as a real European classic. It also served as a reminder to me just how much I enjoy reading pre-twentieth century literature...when I get around to reading it...