Tales of the Night

by Peter Høeg, Barbara Haveland

These stories, which vary in theme but all bear the mark of Peter Høeg's graceful and thoughtful prose, are set in eight separate corners of the world. On this fateful night, a young mathematician encounters Joseph Conrad during a train ride through the war-torn Congo in "Journey into a Dark Heart;" a pair of star-crossed lovers in Lisbon dance through their memories of the Danish ballet in "Hommage to Bournonville;" a seaside community struggles with the threat of a smallpox epidemic in "Pity for the Children of Vaden Town;" and in "The Verdict of Ignatio Lanstad Rasker," an idealistic young writer is prosecuted for his homosexuality by the conservative Lord Chief Justice of Denmark.

Illuminating, acrobatic, and enriched with historical fact and foreshadowing, the stories in Tales of the Night should "consolidate Høeg's reputation as one of the world's most versatile authors" (Seattle Times).

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Denmark, Scandinavian Literature, Contemporary, Danish, Swedish Literature

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Peter Høeg was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Before becoming a writer, he worked variously as a sailor, ballet dancer, and actor. He published his first novel, A History of Danish Dreams (1988), to positive reviews. However, it was Smilla’s Sense of Snow (1992), a million-copy best seller, that earned Høeg immediate and international literary celebrity. His books have been published in more than thirty countries.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, Peter Hoeg has defeated me again. I've read a few titles of his, and liked them, but tried to read others and simply couldn't. This is one of the others.

According to the author's note:
"These eight stories are linked by a date and motif. All of them have to do with love. Love and its conditions on the night of March 19, 1929."

I managed the first selection, Journey Into A Dark Heart, which describes a train ride into the Belgian Congo. The four passengers who have to ride in an extra car added at the last minute include a Danish man who has lost faith in his field of mathematics, a German military man, the writer Joseph Korzeniowski, and an African woman who is not the mere servant girl she appears to be. This was interesting and full of much symbolism and many references that I am sure I only partly understood. This was a story I would read again some day, since it has been my experience that with this author I never completely capture his thoughts the first time through.

But I had to give up with the second story, which featured a Danish ballet dancer and the poet Rumi in philosophical discussions while on the run from the law. I am not in the right frame of mind these days for such high-minded literature, I suppose. Maybe next year.....

DNF on Mar 5

[Dimitris Passas (TapTheLine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Høeg is one of the most talented and versatile contemporary Danish authors and he is widely known for his novel, "Smilla's Sense of Snow", a hallmark for Scandinavian crime fiction in general which was also adapted for the big screen by Bille August, and starring Julia Ormond and Gabriel Byrne (1997). "Tales of the Night" is a totally different collection of short stories that defies any strict genre categorization and it is one of Høeg's early writings -it was written in 1990- which showed the reading audience his remarkable skills in crafting arresting stories of high literary value. There are eight stories in total, and in this review, I will try to present a synopsis for my top picks. The connecting link between all of them is, as the author puts it in his foreword note, that they "have to do with love and its conditions on the night of March 19, 1929".

To read my full review visit https://tapthelinemag.com/post/tales-...

[Ingrida Ceple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Šajā grāmatā ir 8 Pētera Hēga stāsti, kurus vieno viens datums un viens vārds. Šeit nav fizika un ķīmija. Hēgs pirms visiem mistiskajiem trilleriem. Šeit daudz ir no viņa paša, kaut gan, neapšaubāmi, tas ir visos vairāk vai mazāk, tikai te tas likās dziļi personiskāk. Īpaši stāstā par baletdejotāju un Dānijas Karalisko baletu, lasot likās, ka vinš dejo, tik reāli, tāpat gandrīz ikvienā stāstā ir viņa mīļie kuģi, jahtas vai laivas vai Stāsts par kādu laulību - par jaunu rakstnieku.

Mani īpaši uzrunāja Līdzcietība pret bērniem Vadenas pilsētā - lasi un gribas atzīmēt sev katru lapu. Un Spriedums Augstākās tiesas priekšsēdētājam - stāsts stāstā par vīrieti un viņa mūža mīlestību pret apsūdzēto un tiesas paralēles ar Oskara Vailda paraugtiesu. Par dēla apbrīnu, kas pārvēršas naidā un par visu iesaistīto sieviešu nostāšanos tēva pusē. Jo Mīlestība ir augstāka par visu.

''Žēlastības dāvanas izdala citā teātrī. To sauc par valsti. Par to ir cits stāsts.'' (54)

''Pieaudzis cilvēks ceļu pie sevis var atrast tikai caur bērnu.'' (195)

''Svarīgākais nav ikreiz uzvarēt. Svarīgākais ir sevī zināt, ka jebkurā brīdī tu būtu varējis uzvarēt.'' (215)

''Vai viņi vēl joprojām neapgalvo, ka jūs mācaties dzīvei?'' viņš noprasīja. ''Apgalvo gan.''
''Un, kad dzīve sāksies, viņa teiks, ka jūs dzīvojat, lai strādātu un ka ir jāstrādā tēvzemes un jūsu bērnu labad. To bērnu labad, kuri tad skolā nupat ir dabūjuši zināt, ka mācās dzīvei, un tā tas turpinās.'' (223)

''Kā lai aizmirst to, no kā aizbrauc?
Tas, kurš dzīvo pa īstam, can never forget. Personiski es atceros ikvienu kāvienu, kuru savā mūžā esmu saņēmis.'' (239)

''Ko gan varu tev dot, izstāstīdams šo stāstu.''
''Ceļojumu,'' nopietni atbildēja musulmanis. ''Šajā mirklī es esmu kopā ar tevi uz skatuves, par kuru tu runā.'' (66)

[Jacob Sandnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit pompous, some stories were better than others

[Kitija · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tikai nonākot līdz beigām, līdz stāstam pat Spoguli, es saprotu, ka visu šo laiku grāmatu esmu lasījusi nepareizi.
Šie stāsti prasa daudz vairāk uzmanības. Tā nav nekāda vieglā, ne ātrā literatūra par mīlestību.

Šī bija reize, kad man bija jāsāk no otra gala, no beigām. Un iespējams tad būtu “iedzīvojusies” stāstos labāk.

[Katrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Löysin kirjan hotellin kirjastossa poros-saarella, muiden suomenkielisen kirjan kanssa. Luin tämän heti vielä lomalla. Idea oli hyvä. Kahdeksan kertomuksia samasta yöstä mutta tarinat ei liittyy toisiinsa mitenkään. Täytyy sanoa että vaikka jotain yksityiskohtia olivat erittäin mielenkiintoisia, minä jäin kaipaamaan jotain mitä tämä kirja halusi sanoa. Miksi kaikki tarinat ovat samasta yöstä ja en näe sitä punaista lankoa? Tarinat olivat hyvää, vaikka myöskin kuvitteellisia. Hyvin viihdyin vaikka nimenomaan jotain puutui.

[Susanna Rautio · Rating 4 out of 5]

En todellakaan pidä Peter Høegista! Jos sanojen määrä maailmankaikkeudessa olisi vakio, Høeg olisi jo käyttänyt oman osansa. Varsinkin kaikkein vaikeimmista sanoista kuten maailmankaikkeus, avaruus, vuosisadat tai Tanskan historia.

Yllätyksekseni verbaliikan tuhlaajapoika osaakin myös hillitä itseään. Se sopii tälle miehelle.

Ehkä se johtuu muotovalinnasta: Kertomuksia yöstä sisältää kahdeksan novellia. Kaikissa on kyse vuodesta 1929 eivätkä ne liity toisiinsa. Paitsi rakkauden ja peilimetaforan osalta. Peilitarina on ihanne maailman heijastamisesta. Mutta sehän on vain pintaa.

Novelleissa tavataan seikkailijoita ja maailmankansalaisia edustamassa jotain itseään suurempaa. Maagista realismia kyllä, mutta minulle sopivalla proosallisemmalla twistillä. Ja peilin takaa ilmestyy aina jotain yllättävää, jota ei pintaa katsomalla huomaa.

Parasta Peter Høegia ehdottomasti! Puhutteleva, kyseenalaistava ja kiehtovaa luettavaa.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a... really strange book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first picked it up, because the summary on the inside is honestly very vague, and even now, I'm not sure if I could tell you exactly what the book is about.

It's a collection of eight short stories written by Peter Høeg, all of which take place on March 19, 1929. According to the summary, they're all supposedly about love, but with a couple of them, I didn't quite get that. In fact, I was only really able to get into three of them. The rest either went over my head or bored me nearly to tears. They were all beautifully written, don't get me wrong, but a lot of them just weren't interesting, at least to me. Or I just couldn't figure out what was going on or what Peter Høeg was trying to say.

Anyway, I liked "The Verdict on the Right Honorable Ignatio Landstad Rasker, Lord Chief Justice," "An Experiment on the Constancy of Love," and "Story of a Marriage." The rest I could've done without.

Now, let's see if I can push myself to finish my other current read, the extremely dense nonfiction book that I didn't know was nonfiction until I started reading it!

[Pavle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zbirka priča Petera Hega nam se predstavlja kao roman, jer se sve priče dešavaju tokom iste večeri. Meni to ipak nije bilo dovoljno da poveže sve priče (poglavlja?) u jednu celinu poput romana - šta fali tematskim zbirkama priča i zašto je neophodno zvati ovo romanom?

Likovi svih priča su svojevrsni genijalci ili pripadnici najviše elite. U toj kobnoj noći, svima im se dešava neka ključna prekretnica, koja i nije toliko jedan događaj, već kulminacija niza događaja koje otkrivamo kroz prisećanja. Priče su pune monologa koji ne zvuče baš kao što ljudi pričaju, ali zvuče tako da se oči razgorače dok se čitaju - puni i dubokih emocija i dubokih promatranja.

Krajevi priča su mi se ponegde svideli, a ponegde su mi bili malo antiklimaktični - nisam siguran je l to zato što ih nisam shvatio do kraja ili zato što su prosto takvi.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These short stories are linked by a common bond: each take place, sort of, on the night of March 19, 1929 (sometimes the narrator is in the future looking back at said night), and each is about love. Love in all its permutations: familial, unrequited, homosexual, lust, self-love, love of country, love in theory and in fact. Characters mostly try to define or expand their boundaries of love through science or art, and here a little research may be necessary--it was, at least, for me. As always, Hoeg's prose is lyrical and multi-layered, a joy to read. Were any answers reached about love? No, but the point of this collection is to make you think rather than decide. No Truth here, just interpretations.

[Phillip Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before he became an author Peter Høeg was a dancer, an actor, a fencer, a sailor, and a mountaineer. His experiences in those fields are apparent in this collection of eight short stories which are "concerned with love. Love and its conditions on the night of 19 March 1929."

When I first read Tales of the Night a few years ago, I had lost patience with short stories. The trend seemed to be to write stories that were all middle. No beginning and no end. But I loved this, and have been looking forward to re-reading it ever since. My expectations were a little too high, though. To be honest I don't understand four of the stories, but that was more than made up for by the five I enjoyed. Those of you who are au fait with basic arithmetic will be puzzled by that, being as there are only eight stories. Well, it's because I enjoyed, without really understanding the first of these Tales of the Night...

JOURNEY INTO A DARK HEART describes a strange meeting between four people in a carriage of the first train to travel on the railway line between Cabinda and Katanga in Central Africa. There's a young Danish man, who has given up studying mathematics and is working for a trading company, a one-eyed German general, and a reporter called Joseph Korzeniowski, accompanied by a black servant girl. The three men have a philosophical and political conversation before their journey is terminated unexpectedly. Now Joseph Korzeniowski was the real name of novelist Joseph Conrad, who was most famous for writing Heart of Darkness, set in Africa. You see what's going on here? It's very enigmatic, but it went right over my head I'm afraid. And anyway, hadn't Conrad been dead for five years by 1929?

In the second tale, HOMAGE TO BOURNONVILLE, a ballet dancer, travelling with no papers, in a boat he has stolen, tells his companion, an Islamic monk, the tale of his friend Andreas... which I just lost interest in. Sorry.

THE VERDICT ON THE RIGHT HONOURABLE IGNATIO LANDSTAD RASKER, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE was my favourite. Like several of these tales, it is told by one of the characters. Høeg is telling tales about people telling tales. On the night of his daughter's wedding, a barrister describes the occasion twenty-two years earlier, when he was summoned by his father, the Lord Chief Justice, who told him about a trial he presided over - which echoes the trials of Oscar Wilde and Flaubert (for Madame Bovary).

A young writer stands accused of offending public decency with a novel, and having 'unnatural relations' with a sixteen year-old boy. Of course, ` he is convicted, but a meeting with the writer in his cell has a strange effect on the judge, and leads to a wonderfully funny and moving climax. I would have cheered if I hadn't been too busy laughing my socks off.

I also loved the next story: AN EXPERIMENT IN THE CONSTANCY OF LOVE. This is the tale of a physicist called Charlotte who is trying to find echoes of the past through quantum mechanics. I'll bet that some of you feel like you're falling asleep at the back of a lecture theatre already, eh? The tale of her scientific, literary and sexual awakening is truly beautiful, and, I felt, imbued with the spirit of that other great Dane, Hans Christian Andersen.

Since her mother was also a physicist mother, and her father was the Danish ambassador to Paris, she encounters several famous scientists including Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein, en passant, from an early age. This will bore those of you who find scientific motifs in literature tiresome, but please remember that without science there would be no internet!

Charlotte, is trying to escape the inevitable disappointment of love, which always seems to fade: ' "There is no such thing," thought Charlotte, "there can never be any such thing as *perpetuum mobile* of love." '

She stood there stock-still and her thoughts, maddened by grief, launched themselves off into space. And although she could not have put this flash of insight into words she discerned that the universe was elastic, that everything was expanding, that each and every human being was distancing themself from every other human being at an unbelievable rate of knots and that the spaces between the random particle collisions known as love were filled with nothing but the emptiness within which the sun will eventually burn out and crumble into a cloud of ash, while lifeless Earth, cooled to zero degrees on the Kelvin scale, subsides into the eternal winter of outer space.

Ahhh...

"the random particle collisions known as love"

I love that line. You see, you don't need to read holy books to find beauty. Beautiful things can be created by pure chance. They can be and they are. Call me a romantic old atheist, if you like, but I do love that line.

PORTRAIT OF THE AVANT-GARDE is about a young artist who paints his first picture on March 19th, 1929. After becoming famous he publicly supports that bloke that ran Germany in the 1930's, and he ends up on a boat with an old bloke, erm, that's about it. Sorry, I don't know what to make of this.

I thought the sixth tale, PITY FOR THE CHILDREN OF VADEN TOWN, started very promisingly. The people of Vaden Town in Jutland love their children beyond price, having legislated against mistreatment of children long ago. So when a local merchant is warned of an outbreak of an unknown strain of smallpox which has killed children in Zealand, the townspeople elect to cut themselves off from the rest of the country. But when a ship sails into the harbour with a circus on board, the quarantine is broken. The main attraction of the circus is a dwarf clown who used to be an opera singer. Shades of the pied piper perhaps? Not really, and not much of an ending, either. But whereas this one started brilliantly and then disappointed me, the next tale, did the opposite...

STORY OF A MARRIAGE is about the van Austen family, who are considered by some to embody the Danish nation. The family's wealth was gained through the shipping trade, but they have since come to avoid all contact with foreigners, apart for one Indian family from which they always employ an attendant. Georg and Margrethe van Austen seem the perfect couple, deeply in love. Although they've retired from the public eye they are often seen dancing round the dining room of their mansion house with the curtains open... Now this story really does have a satisfying ending.

If only Jane Austen had begun one of her novels the way Høeg begins the last, and shortest, tale here - RETURN OF A YOUNG MAN IN THE BALANCE:

It is with mild indifference that I view the fact that I live in a world which talks so fast that it needs must breathe through its arse.

This is the tale of a young man who is a mirror maker, and what happens when he seeks the help of a girl renowned as a glass grinder. Which is, erm, not much. I think I'm just way too shallow for some of these tales...

Tales of the Night is an excellent collection of short stories, but be warned, they are rather deep and highbrow.


{Review originally posted on dooyoo.co.uk on March 19th, 2002}

[Ingrida Ceple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pārsteidzošs Pēteris Hēgs, pavisam savādāks, kāds iepazīts Sūzanas efektā un Smillas jaunkundzes sniega izjūtās. Šeit nebija ne miņas no viņam raksturīgā dzīvesprieka, humoriņa un sarkasma, drīzāk kaut kas tumšs, drūms, bezcerīgs. Stāsts ar savām daudzkāršajām jēgām, kas kā dzeloņcūkas adatas spurojas uz visām pusēm.

Ir 1929. gada 19. marts, jauns dānis Dāvids Rēns, apsēsts ar matemātiku, pa tikko atklāto dzelzceļa līniju dodas ceļojumā uz Āfrikas vi­dieni.

''Āfrikas dzelzceļi - tie neiet pa sliedēm, tie iet pa āfrikāņu kauliem. Vai jūs saukto to citā vārdā nekā verdzība?''

''- Zinātnes gaisma ir bīstama ar to, - Dāvids klusi sacīja, - ka var likties - esam izpētījuši pasauli un paši sevi, lai gan patiesībā mūs apžilbinājis gaismas avots, un mēs tāpēc redzam apkārtni kā tumšu un neizprotamu, kamēr pašu deguns ir spilgti apgaismots. Tas, kurš braucis caur Āfriku apgaismotā salonā, pēc atgriešanās mājās stāstīs, ka Āfrika ir draudīga mežmala.''

[Filoména · Rating 4 out of 5]

První Høegova kniha, kterou jsem četla, byla Cit slečny Smilly pro sníh, a tuze mě překvapilo, jak se Příběhy jedné noci od ní liší. Ne kvalitou, ne poutavostí; přirozeně také Smilla je román, kdežto Příběhy soubor povídek.
Stylem mi připomíná směs Waltariho psychologických románů a atmosféry Marquézova magického realismu. Velice zajímavá kombinace.
Povídky spojuje láska ve všech možných podobách. Různá místa, různé životní příběhy, vždycky silné. Co je iluze a co skutečnost? Jaký život má smysl žít? Čemu v sobě může člověk věřit?

[Laura Walin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olen aina pitänyt Peter Hoegin tavasta kirjoittaa, sillä hän todella osaa luoda sanoillaan maailmoja. Ja millaisia maailmoja! Vähän niin kuin meidän, mutta kun tarkemmin katsoon, niissä on jotain vinksahtanutta tai vääntynyttä, jotain, mistä luulee saavansa yhdessä kohtaa kiinni mutta seuraavassa kappaleessa ajatus jo lipeää. Pitkissä romaanimuotoisissa tarinoissa tämä on helpompaa kuin novelleissa, mutta niin vain Hoeg onnistuu jälkimmäisessäkin tyylilajissa.

Tämän kokoelman novellit tapahtuvat kaikki samana yönä (joskaan tämä ei ole aivan ilmeistä kaikissa tarinoissa) 1920-luvun lopulla. Lukija pääsee mukaan muun muassa uuden rautatien avajaisiin Kongoon, seuraamaan maailman onnellisimman avioliiton illallishetkeä ja tutustumaan profeetallisen tuttuun tilanteeseen, jossa pandemian vuoksi yksi idyllinen tanskalaiskaupunki on suljettu ulkopuolisilta lasten sairastumisen ehkäisemiseksi.

En voi kuin ihailla Hoegin mielikuvitusta, jolla nämä mahdolliset maailmat on keksitty, ja hänen sanataiteilijuuttaan, jolla ne tehdään lukijalle todeksi. Hoeg ei päästä lukijaa helpolla vaan tekee lukemisesta hidasta, kun jokainen sana on merktiyksellinen osa kokonaisuutta. tekstiä ei voi ahmia, vaikka haluaisi. Tämä kirja kestäisi hyvin useammankin lukukerran.

[Edgars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arī šo man no bibliotēkas atnesa Alīna, tāpēc nācās lasīt. Grāmata satur astoņus pilnībā nesaistītus stāstus, kuriem kopīgs ir vienīgi tas, ka visi notiek vienā datumā - 1929. gada 19. martā. Bet pamanīju vēl vienu kopīgu iezīmi - stāsti tiek stāstīti vairākos līmeņos. Tie ir stāsti stāstos. Piemēram, trešajā stāstā "Spriedums Augstākās tiesas priekšsēdētājam Ignācijam Landstadam Raskeram" autors stāsta, kā kāds tiesnesis sapulcina savus radus, lai tiem pastāstītu, kā viņa tēvs, arī tiesnesis, savulaik sapulcinājis savus kolēģus un radus, lai tiem pastāstītu, ko kāds viņa apsūdzētais reiz stāstījis tiesas prāvā..

Skaidrs, ka interesantums katra stāsta ietvaros ir apgriezti proporcionāls lasīšanas vietas attālumam no stāsta beigām. Zināms laiks paiet, kamēr notiek tā saucamā ielasīšanās - iepazīšanās ar jaunajiem varoņiem, vietām, laikmeta raksturojumu. Un beigās, kad viss jau kļuvis ļoti interesanti, stāsts ir cauri, dodot vietu nākamajam. Tādi jau tie stāsti ir, un jāsaka, ka šajos negaidītu pagriezienu netrūkst.

[Leticia Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read maybe three volumes of Peter Hoeg, all in translation, and yet I am an enduring fan. I consider myself an enduring fan despite the translations, because even in the translations that I've read - each penned by a different translator - the author's storytelling capability, and voice, just shine.

The author clearly possesses an almost boundless general knowledge in areas that speak most clearly to my soul: Dance, mathematics, physics, love.

Tales of the Night takes the issue of love and examines it through a range of lenses. One is dance. One is law. One is physics. One is art. One is drama. Each one different. Each one layered and intense. Each one narrated with a skill that one doesn't seem to find with native English-speaking authors, a style that is perhaps characteristic of other languages leaving their hue on what would otherwise be a rather paltry kind of story. I believe that those whose works are translated into English from cultures that are deeply entwined with story - Russians, Scandinavians - have a depth even in English that native English storytellers don't have. This depth is aided by the intensity of skill required to translate something beautifully: A far-reaching vocabulary and a sensitivity to style that most authors in their home languages don't have.

This is, I realise, an exceedingly generic kind of statement, one without much substance, filled entirely with the opinion of one who has a paltry reading history (realistically). A handful of Russian authors, a library in which under 30% exist by virtue of translation, a geographical spread of authorship limited by access and interest. And yet it somehow feels right, so challenge it if you will.

The first work of Hoeg's that I encountered was the incredible Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow. After absorbing the art of this story, I devoured Borderliners too. And then the author seemed to disappear for years: I never saw one of his works anywhere. Until recently, when I saw Tales of the Night and didn't hesitate to own it. This disappearance is something akin to the author's own sinking away from public life, which happened after he released one of his next titles, The Woman and the Ape, which, incidentally, I've never seen much less read. I can't comment on any of the works he wrote after 1993, in fact, because that's literally where my reading of his works ceases. His modern works have been considered 'too postmodern' and difficult, though I suspect that the reading public has also found itself less capable of keeping up with intelligences that are often beyond our own. Perhaps one day I will find myself in a position to assess whether or not that is the case, or whether I'm simply being a pig-headed bigot.

Tales of the Night is a simple volume of a small number of stories that are deceptively deep in their respective philosophical positions. As a volume of stories to consume at night, before bed, I can't recommend it to you enough. As a volume of stories demonstrative of one of the most skillful writers of our age, I also can't recommend it to you enough.

My curiosity may forever wonder about whether or not the shape of Hoeg's works is as poetic and beautiful in their original Danish. That, however, is something I am very unlikely to discover for myself.

[Kevin Tole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dunno what Peter Hoeg thinks he is (and there is so much on the publisher's blurb on the back that you think, gawd, you would think he is magic personified) .... but I can tell you that he is not Europe's answer to magical realism. I rated this so low that I forgot, or rather tried to forget that I had read this through to the bitter end.

These 8 tales concerned with love all occur on the same date - 19th March 1929. - chosen out of the air?

The first tale seems to be a riff on Joseph Conrad, containing further riffs on Kafka and Josef K as well as the pre-story dedication being a Conrad quote. A general, a mathematician and a journalist travel on the newly opened Kabinda railway through the Heart of the Darkness trading personal insults. Its a thoroughly pompous read which is not the thoroughly great prose dissertation that trips off the tongue as it purports to be but contains a good deal of arty bollix as well as an aside on the difference between truth and fiction. It turns farcical when the travelling servant reveals themselves as the dreaded Ugandan bandit / terrorist. A long Hans Christian Anderson take on a Brothers Grimm epic. (Shoorly, (methinks) its got to get better than this).

It doesn't. The second 'Homage to Bournonville' is not worth discussing.

The third, 'The Verdict on.....' is just specious pish. But the book continues along with it's arrogant preachy tone.

The fourth, 'An Experiment...'. What is it about non-scientists trying to write about science in their pursuit of poesy? - or what in their view purports to be science? Its a sacrilege on the scale of non-painters pontificasting on the works of painters who have dedicated a lifetime to their art and mytho-geographers making up history. It's seductive and allows one to turn off one's critical faculties and wallow in the romanticism of pish to become lazy and soporific. Poorly written (or poorly translated). Banal. Hack. Engaging to the multiform reading groups, librarians and middle-of-the-road middle class mediocrities everywhere. Peter Hoeg would appear to be that kind of writer, based on the first four., - loveable, liberal, adored by humanity studies and pseudo-scientists everywhere. All for love...... all for artistic excellence..... whilst revelling in the world of gelt. A fine upstanding member of Trustafaria.

Fifth. 'Portrait of the Avant Garde'. Incomprehensible romantic tosh. But wait..... we have yet to reach the bottom.

Sixth. 'Pity the Children'. More Hans Christian Anderson. Hoeg writes like a sad ultra-romantic amateur down the writing group at the library.

Ohh....... I did give up...... that WAS the bottom.

Believe me. Don't bother. You would need to be desperate to follow this through to the end. At 50p on the back shelf of a charity store, I thought I'd give it a punt. But the location and price says it all really. It ain't worth the time. There are far far better things to do with your time than take it up reading this garbled wittering ingenue rubbish. Like reading arty-bollix from a graduating Fine Art student. I hope he gets embarrassed rereading this tosh.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

With many of short-story books that I have read, there's a very common theme of making many of the characters similar. There's not a lot of variation, and while the characters themselves are good, the intensity that comes with them is lessened every time a new story is created about them.

Such is not the cast in Tales of the Night, which was a deeply satisfying read. Each story was great in its own way, and very memorable, and having them all in one book was a treat. Peter Hoeg somehow managed to surprise me with his style in each story, and I wasn't bored with any of them. Not only were they very imaginative, but he also manages to challenge you with subtle politics and debatable morals.

They did, though, remind me a little of J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey; he would introduce a character, and then make the story completely about him through the eyes of another. A prime example is in Hoeg's story Pity for the Children of Vaden Town, where he took you through three or four different characters before finally dropping you off at this boy named Kristoffer who was distressed and who, by the way, has girlfriend, and here's her story! Or The Verdict on Ignatio Landstad Rasker, where, after explaining a marriage, Hector gets up from the dinner table and relays a story about his father which makes up the entire short story.

It's that kind of deep thoughtfulness and intuitive creativity that really stuck with me, though, and made it very individualized. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I'll be re-reading this book every year. I was absolutely blown away by these stories--rather dark, though that should not have been surprising, given the author. Each of his stories takes place on the same night (more or less), March 19, 1929, but in a different setting. Each one is partly about love (and not just the good parts of love), but also about truth and humanity. I'm concerned that this was not the best translation--it is certainly not in the vein of "Smilla..." or "Quiet Girl" at all. Though Mr. Hoeg's intelligence and passion for surprising details is abundant. His ability to maintain suspense in each of these stories was exhausting! I enjoyed the tension and mystery very much. A writer who can achieve this level of quality and maintain his ability to create one absolutely original story after another is amazing to me. I have not been this impressed in a long time. I hope more readers 'discover' this work--I couldn't be happier to have stumbled on it.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read books by learned writers whose books are also arresting. Based on this book and Smilla's Sense of Snow, I place Peter Hoeg in this category. Here in this book are stories, parables, tales of several types, and, always, places perfectly placed. In the first five stories, all of which are quite dense, I tried now and again to skim a bit. Never could, kept having to go back and read the entire paragraph I had attempted to just glance at. Every word matters. I love when I find this. I love that a maximalist can do it as well as a minimalist.Peter Hoeg tugs you up steep mountains, then securely carries you down the other side. You have discovered and are able to hold onto the fascinating views you worked to reach the top to see and you can reflect as you descend and realize what you just came to understand.

The only problem with a writer like him is that a writer read afterwards seems so minor.

[Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually a really great collection of short stories. There were only some points near the end of the collection where the stories sagged a bit. Sometimes everything got too poetic, so much so that it took away from the actual plot of the story. That being said, there are some really beautiful and thought-provoking ideas in here.

I used the first story, “Journey Into a Dark Heart” for a big english paper I had this year, and it was almost perfect for the section of my paper where I talk about the evils of exploiting others for personal gain.

But when I read it through an entertainment lense, I found strong themes of accepting one’s mortality and the complexities of life. I actually enjoyed the bit where the African servant girl revealed herself as the famed bandit all along, it was a definite power shift I did not see coming.

[Iida M-I]

Aion tutustua Hoegin koko tuotantoon voidakseni päätyä johonkin mielipiteeseen hänestä kirjailijana. Aloitin Hiljaisesta tytöstä, josta pidin tosi paljon, sitten luin Lumen tajun, joka sekin miellytti. Susanin vaikutusta taas en ehkä jaksanut pureskella loppuun, ja se jätti siksi aika epämiellyttävän kuvan. Nyt sitten jäi tämä kesken. Nämä lyhyet tarinat ovat liian raskaita (tämänhetkiseen?) makuuni.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little strange but a good read

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Первое мое знакомство с Питером Хёгом случилось именно с Ночными рассказами.
В моих читальных планах значится и Севилла с ее чувством снега. Но меня заинтриговала аннотация именно к рассказам. И это первый мой прочитанный полностью сборник рассказов за некоторое время.
Очень важно упомянуть о том, что сборники и рассказы – это вообще-то очень сложное для меня событие. Я очень люблю полноценные, так сказать, книги. И чем больше страниц – тем лучше.
Может быть, поэтому этот сборник шел не так легко, как все остальное.
И вроде бы и придраться не к чему, и смыслом наполнены рассказы, и стиль повествования хорош, однако осталось какое-то неоднозначное чувство.
В каждом рассказе есть «предрассказ», который нас окунает и знакомит с главными героями.
На мой взгляд, может быть, слишком углубленно автор нам рассказывает эти предыстории. Можно сказать так – в каждой истории есть две части – первая – общее знакомство и как «мы пришли к такой жизни». А вторая, собственно, про ночь с 19 на 20 марта.
К слову сказать, после начала третьего рассказа я уже и забыть забыла о том, что эти рассказы – ночные, и что действие их происходит в одну и ту же ночь. Некоторые абзацы и целые рассказы я перечитывала по несколько раз, чтобы понять… Поэтому я читала книгу целых 10 дней, хотя могла бы сделать это в два раза быстрее.
Слишком много информации.
Путешествие в сердце тьмы. О молодом парне, бывшем математике, а ныне - политучастнике, чьи взгляды на политику да и на жизнь в целом за ночь на 20 марта меняются на противоположные.
Hommage a Bournonville. Про двух мужчин – монаха и бывшего танцовщика театра. В ночь на 20 марта один из них рассказывает другому о несчастной любви и разочаровании в жизни и призвании одного парня.
Суд над председателем Верховного суда Игнатио Ланстадом Раскером. Мужчина, судья, в ночь свадьбы своего сына, с 19 на 20 марта, рассказывает историю своего отца. История о непредсказуемости любви и о том, что не все в этом мире люди могут контролировать.
Закон сохранения любви. Эта история меня вообще выбила из колеи. Я прочитала этот рассказ дважды, но мало что поняла. Интуитивно, конечно, понятно, а вот детали… Речь тут об одной девушке, которая ставила эксперимент. Эксперимент касался того, что эмоции сохраняют память о прошлом (или как-то так...) В ночь на 20 марта эксперимент удался.
Портрет авангардиста. История о заносчивом нарциссе-художнике, которого ночь на 20 марта здорово обломила и поставила на место.
Сострадание к детям в городе Вадене. Рассказ о парне, который потерял сам себя, и в ночь на 20 марта ему помог обрести утраченное клоун из странствующего цирка.
История одного брака. История о счастливом браке, но на котором лежит проклятие. Девиз этой истории - «То, что вы видите, то, что хотят вам показать – не всегда является правдой. Ведь в каждой семье есть скелеты в шкафу». Тут я увидела призрачное скольжение мистики между строк.
Меры предосторожности против старости. О мужчине и его детстве. О том, как его семья отреклась от старых людей в пользу своих нарцисстичных личностей и эту старую обузу попыталась обуздать. О том, как мужчина в ночь на 20 марта понял, что многие его родственники – в нескольких поколениях – ошибались на этот счет.
Отражение молодого человека в состоянии равновесия. О мужчине – зеркальщике. О том, как он в ночь на 20 марта нашел свою любовь и познал вселенную.
В целом же повторюсь, книга (рассказы) наполнены смыслом, написаны со знанием дела, сюжетные линии в каждом рассказе присутствуют, но…. Что-то не то…
Я хотела ставить книге «3», но не поднялась рука снижать балл за то, что я не могу выразить словами.

[Demis Biscaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ero nel pieno del mio periodo Hoeg: via I quasi adatti e sotto con questo, una raccolta di racconti che corre sul filo del sogno, del mistero e del surreale. Sarò sincero, ne rimasi affascinato, ma lo apprezzai meno dei due romanzi dello stesso autore che avevo già letto, I quasi adatti, appunto, e Il senso di Smilla per la neve.

Ogni racconto riusciva a catturarmi e, da principio, sembrava portarmi in territori non dico ragionevoli, ma almeno sensati, per poi deviare pian piano verso luoghi meno frequentati dalla razionalità, dove il paesaggio emotivo si faceva meno definito e dove la vita prendeva il sopravvento sull'individualità.

Lo lessi voracemente, ma alla fine ne emersi come boccheggiante e da allora non l'ho piú ripreso in mano.
Forse sarebbe ora di farlo.

---
Precedente: I quasi adatti
Successivo: Palomar

[Lesya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Удовольствия от прочтения ноль. Вся книга в целом и каждый рассказ по отдельности пропитаны пафосом насквозь. Герои искусственные и идентичные, словно клонированная личность, живущая в разных телах. Везде сверхчеловек, мастер на все руки, талант в любой области за какую не возьмётся и любимец народа. Не понятно зачем было писать 9 историй, если все тоже самое можно было сказать и одной.
Такая жесткая критика, наверно, объясняется первым предложением этого отзыва.

[Ptjerónimo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contos. Não são completamente desinteressantes mas a escrita é laboriosa, pouco límpida. Considerações esdrúxulas e embrincadas e diálogos que ocasionalmente se tornam absurdos. Uma vez mais temo que uma parte da responsabilidade disso poderá ser imputada à tradutora (não se pode confiar muito em alguém que por diversas vezes escreve "portugese"" em vez de "portuguese"...).

[Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

raccolti di racconti sul tema dell'amore nelle sue varie accezioni e significati, a sfondo fortemente filosofico/esistenzialista, la scrittura di Höeg è a tratti lirica, cruda, elegante, a impatto forse troppo cerebrale ma una volta abituati al suo ritmo si riesce a godere di racconti di grande fascino, singolari e intensi

[Radka Smejkalova · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pro mě nepochopitelná kniha. Příběhy v příbězích, nekonečné odbočky, nesrozumitelné dějové linky, nesourodé odkazy na známé osobnosti vytržené z místa a času. Ráda si od někoho nechám vysvětlit, co mu tato kniha dala.

[Arthur · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was a slow one, which migh explain the low rating. The stories themselves were surreal and quite immersive, however I had trouble motivating myself to read on - a bad sign for a book imo.
It was an uphill climb and I'm happy to be over with it, tbh