Johannesson has written distinguished studies of Dinesen and the novels of August Strindberg. In the following excerpt, he discusses "Sorrow-Acre" as a story that expresses Dinesen' s elitist views and aristocratic sympathies.

The most dramatic illustration of the aristocratic philosophy of life is found in "Sorrow-Acre." This story, winch is set in Denmark, seeks, in Milton's words, to Justify the ways of God to man. It seeks to answer several related questions: Why is life so dear? Why 1S life so p1tiless? Is there not a God who can temper the laws of necessity with mercy?

The central incident concerns a crime. AnneMarie, a peasant woman, has a son who is accused and probably guilty of having set fire to a bam, and for this crime he is to be punished. When AnneMarie pleads for her son the lord of the estate makes a stipulation: if...