Vilhelm’s Room

Ditlevsen (The Copenhagen Trilogy) published this aching and accomplished work of autofiction about love and punishment in 1975, one year before her death by suicide. Lise, a successful middle-aged writer, has recently been left by her cheating husband, Vilhelm, and now tries to move on from their life together. Shortly before her release from a psychiatric hospital, Lise publishes a desperate and deadpan personal ad: “Recently escaped a long, unhappy marriage—aged 51, but youthful in spirit—wonderful son, aged 15—household literary name—summerhouse—large flat in the city centre—temporarily incapacitated by a nervous breakdown—prefers a motorist.” The ad is answered by Kurt, a man “who did not really live.” He moves in with Lise, who begins writing a series of tell-all articles about her relationship with Vilhelm, just as his latest lover starts to consider leaving him. Ditlevsen’s descriptions often paint her protagonist in the most unflattering light (“She had the habit of admitting herself to hospital, because the role of patient satisfied so many of her infantile needs”). It’s a haunting and deeply felt portrayal of intimate catastrophe. (May)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misdescribed the subject of protagonist Lise’s series of tell-all articles.