Summary of Tove Ditlevsen's The Copenhagen Trilogy

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 The sun broke over the gypsy wagon, as if it came from inside it, and Scabie Hans came out with bare chest and a wash basin in his hands. When he had poured the water over himself, he put out his hand for a towel and Pretty Lili gave it to him. They didn’t say a word to each other. #2 When my mother was dressed, she would stand in front of the mirror in the bedroom and spit on a piece of pink tissue paper, which she then rubbed hard across her cheeks. I would carry the cups out to the kitchen, and inside of me long, mysterious words began to crawl across my soul like a protective membrane. #3 My father was a scoundrel and a drunkard, but at least he wasn’t a socialist. My brother Edvin was going to be a skilled worker, something very special. Skilled workers had real tablecloths on the table instead of newspaper. #4 The living room is an island of light and warmth for many thousands of evenings. It’s always winter, and out in the world it’s ice cold like in the bedroom and the kitchen. The fire roars in the stove.