Perspective

The biographer approached Isak Dinesen in an objective manner, exposing both the good and bad sides of the storyteller. Dinesen could have been the nicest person in the room or an outrageous harpy. She was energetic in her old age but was also taking amphetamines to keep up the pace. At times highly vulnerable, she could also shame a group of German soldiers to not search her house during the Nazi occupation.

Obviously a big fan of Dinesen, the biographer indulged in her own summary and analysis of Dinesen's major works. The saving grace was that the biographer also tied these literary reviews to situations in Dinesen's life, whether full scenes, individual characters, plot elements or thematic ideas.

Having full access to all of the family's papers, letters and other records pertinent to Dinesen's life also improved the perspective tremendously. Between full access and interviews with people who...