Fatal attraction
Marie Grubbe is sent to Copenhagen just before the Swedish king places an iron ring around the city, and she falls helplessly in love with the city's military commander-in-chief. Marie is even excited by the fact that the gallant officer uses a bit of force to get his first kiss. Unfortunately the war hero dies under circumstances that cause Marie to despise him, and consequently she quite happily marries the King's protégé, Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve. The marriage begins gently and pleasantly enough, but when, after a long stay abroad, Ulrik Frederik gets a bit heavy-handed with her in an erotic situation, Marie grabs a dagger and stabs him. No wonder Ulrik Frederik subsequently prefers to keep his distance, but this just causes her to attack upon his mistress.
From spark to bonfire
Her marriage is just a detail in Marie's life. Both before, during and after, men are attracted to her like moths to the light of a kerosene lamp. Some die from it, others get burnt, and the lucky ones use the same tactics as Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve and keep a certain safe distance. Even though to some extent the novel Mrs. Marie Grubbe is based on a true story, it would be a shame to reveal how it ends. Suffice it to say that a very young man's very resolute actions during a violent fire at Tjele Manor leave an indelible impression on Marie. And on the reader for that matter.
Dorthe Sondrup Andersen is a Master of Arts of Comparative Literature and an author and writer on cultural affairs. Her books include "The Golden Age without the Gilt" ("Guldalder uden forgyldning") (People's Press, 2004).
Drawing by Kristian Zartmann, 1903. Statens Museum for Kunst.