Reviews about Tom Kristensen
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On
Murder at the Pantomime
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One should obviously not take a little book like this too seriosly. It's a joke. But when the joke is written by a man whose mind has matured in goodness and wisdom along with humour and the heart's laughter, and when the joke is made with such talent, it becomes worth more than many valuable and heavy philo-sophical works.
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Vagn Riisager in Kristeligt Dagblad, 2 November 1962
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On
Collected Poems
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...Here is another fine edition of collected poems - by Tom Kristensen. A literary classic. It shouldn't be necessary to review Tom Kristensen's poems, but if Danish classes have failed to give him his due, I would say that the first three collections of poems: "Fribytterdrømme" (The Freebooter Dream) from 1920, "Mirakler" (Miracles) and "Påfuglefjeren" (The Peacock Feather), both from 1922, are epoch making, written by a poet who wants it all, who wishes to break out and give the new period a new language and who at the same time tries to systematise the mayhem. Tom Kristensen was a modernist and a traditio-na-list at the same time and clearly surpassed his contemporaries. (...) There is much quotable material in this treasure house of modern Danish poetry in the new commendable- edition of Tom Kristensen’s "Collected Poems", and it’s a must if you want to show off your literary knowledge.
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Erik Svendsen in Jyllands-Posten, 21 March 1997
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On
Havoc
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He has a strong Desire to discover his own Identity. He dealed with this in "Somebody Else", but not as thoroughly as in this Masterpiece. This Desire or Urge is in its Essence religious. But is has no predetermined Direction. It doesn't know where to go. It has an inner Compass. It looks everywhere, doesn't believe, but must, must know the Truth as it knows itself, regardless of Truth's Climate, be it an ice desert or primeval forest. The question "Who am I?" can not be answered with "I am". Tom Kristensen has not found his answer, but his serious Work is not just a Monument to his Artistic gifts (which includes Madness and Genius), it is nothing less than an Expression, indeed, Proof that Endeavours for Truth's recognition can change Dirt into Gold.
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Axel Broe in Fredericia Avis, Sorø Amts Dagblad, Vejle Amts Avis, 3 December 1930
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