Loving Soren
This elegantly written first novel about Regina Olsen, the young woman jilted but never forgotten by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, should quickly lift the author to the top ranks of literary Christian novelists. In Copenhagen in 1837, Regina first meets Søren at a party given by a schoolfriend’s family. The lanky young man intrigues her with his sense of irony, his earnestness, and his refusal to conform to polite society. Although Regina forms an understanding with Fritz Schlegel, her former history teacher, Søren rarely escapes her thoughts. He pursues her in return. When Søren proposes, Regina accepts, perhaps partly to save him from his own melancholia. However, Søren’s occasionally rude, selfish behavior towards her remains a source of shame. He ultimately breaks off their romance to serve God through his writing, which devastates them both and overshadows their lives from that point forward. Over the years, neither forgets the other. Can Regina ever forgive him for leaving her, and can she forgive herself for loving him despite everything? The author’s carefully chosen language vividly describes the drawing rooms and byways of historical Copenhagen and the heartfelt emotions of her characters. Nearly all quotes and letters are taken from original sources. The gorgeous pastel cover, depicting a snowy Copenhagen street scene, is a perfect complement to this lovely book.
