Encounters with Kierkegaard : A Life As Seen by His Contemporaries

__Encounters with Kierkegaard__ is a collection of every known eyewitness account of the great Danish thinker. Through many sharp observations of family members, friends and acquaintances, supporters and opponents, the life story of this elusive and remarkable figure comes into focus, offering a rare portrait of Kierkegaard the man. Often viewed by his contemporaries as a person who deliberately cultivated an air of mystery and eccentricity, Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) has been, then and now, a subject of great speculation. His startling attack on the established church, his broken engagement with a young woman from a respected family, and his searing criticisms of literary figures--from the editors of __The Corsair__ to Hans Christian Andersen--are among the acts that brought him much notoriety during his short lifetime. Yet arriving at a sense of the philosopher's personality and motives behind his behavior has been a difficult task. He left no memoirs of autobiography, but in the enormous cannon of his published writings, the author and the person Søren Kierkegaard is problematically present in a welter of disguises. An indispensable path to understanding what he was like as a person, maintains Bruce Kirmmse, is through the observations of his contemporaries. These accounts, ranging from the writings of Meïr Aron Goldschmidt, editor of __The Corsair__, to the recollections of Kierkegaard's fiancée, are organized around the major episodes of the philosopher's life. They enable us to glimpse, among many things, his spiritual and intellectual development, to get a sense of what it was like to be the object of his friendship or his wrath, and to examine various persons' opinions about his relationship with his young fiancée. The memories of this woman, Regine Olsen, who later married Fritz Schlegel, are among the most moving passages: they reveal her profound suffering, her personal understanding of Kierkegaard, and the satisfaction she ultimately felt, knowing that "he took her with him into history." This collection of first-hand accounts invites the reader to compare and interpret a wealth of fascinating stories, and in the end forms an intriguing "do-it-yourself" biography for both the scholar and general reader.

Encounters with Kierkegaard is a collection of everyknown eyewitness account of the great Danish thinker. Through manysharp observations of family members, friends and acquaintances,supporters and opponents, the life story of this elusive andremarkable figure comes into focus, offering a rare portrait ofKierkegaard the man. Often viewed by his contemporaries as a personwho deliberately cultivated an air of mystery and eccentricity,Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) has been, then and now, a subject ofgreat speculation. His startling attack on the established church,his broken engagement with a young woman from a respected family,and his searing criticisms of literary figures--from the editors ofThe Corsair to Hans Christian Andersen--are among the actsthat brought him much notoriety during his short lifetime. Yetarriving at a sense of the philosopher's personality and motivesbehind his behavior has been a difficult task. He left no memoirsof autobiography, but in the enormous cannon of his publishedwritings, the author and the person Søren Kierkegaard isproblematically present in a welter of disguises. An indispensablepath to understanding what he was like as a person, maintains BruceKirmmse, is through the observations of his contemporaries. Theseaccounts, ranging from the writings of Meïr Aron Goldschmidt,editor of The Corsair, to the recollections ofKierkegaard's fiancée, are organized around the major episodes ofthe philosopher's life. They enable us to glimpse, among manythings, his spiritual and intellectual development, to get a senseof what it was like to be the object of his friendship or hiswrath, and to examine various persons' opinions about hisrelationship with his young fiancée. The memories of this woman,Regine Olsen, who later married Fritz Schlegel, are among the mostmoving passages: they reveal her profound suffering, her personalunderstanding of Kierkegaard, and the satisfaction she ultimatelyfelt, knowing that "he took her with him into history." Thiscollection of first-hand accounts invites the reader to compare andinterpret a wealth of fascinating stories, and in the end forms anintriguing "do-it-yourself" biography for both the scholar andgeneral reader.

Encounters With Kierkegaard Is A Collection Of Every Known Eyewitness Account Of The Great Danish Thinker. Through The Sharp Observations Of Family Members, Friends And Acquaintances, Supporters And Opponents, The Life Story Of This Elusive, Remarkable Figure Comes Into Focus, Offering A Rare Portrait Of Kierkegaard The Man. These Accounts, Ranging From The Writings Of Meir Aaron Goldschmidt, Editor Of The Corsair, To The Recollections Of Kierkegaard's Fiancee, Are Organized Around The Major Episodes Of The Philosopher's Life. They Enable Us To Glimpse, Among Many Things, His Spiritual And Intellectual Development, To Get A Sense Of What It Was Like To Be The Object Of His Friendship Or His Wrath, And To Examine Various Opinions About His Relationship With His Young Fiancee. Ch. 1. The Fork: Childhood And School -- Ch. 2. A Young Intellectual: The University Years -- Ch. 3. Soren And Regine: The Engagement And Afterward -- Ch. 4. The Young Writer (ca. 1840-1845) -- Ch. 5. Goldschmidt And The Corsair Affair -- Ch. 6. After The Corsair: The Peripatetic And Controversialist Of The Later 1840s -- Ch. 7. The Moment Comes: Final Opposition -- Ch. 8. Illness, Death, And Burial -- Ch. 9. Soren And The Family -- Ch. 10. Five Portraits By Contemporaries -- Ch. 11. Hans Brochner On Kierkegaard -- Appendix A: The Kierkegaard Family Tree -- Appendix B: Peter Christian Kierkegaard On Soren Kierkegaard. Collected, Edited, And Annotated By Bruce H. Kirmmse ; Translated By Bruce H. Kirmmse And Virginia R. Laursen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [343]-351) And Index.

This book is not only a scholarly gem but also an amazingly good read.... It is hard to imagine a more valuable resource for understanding Kierkegaard's life and personality.--C. Stephen Evans

This story is captivating and well told. No one who reads Kierkegaard thoughtfully will be without this volume.--Thomas C. Olden, Drew University

Religious Studies Review

Meticulously researched and beautifully produced.

This work aims to provide an understanding of the problematic personality of Soren Kierkegaard. By analyzing the observations of his contemporaries, the author aims to create a picture of what Kierkegaard was like and what it was like to be the object his wrath or friendship.