Pelle the Conqueror (novel)

Pelle the Conqueror (Danish: Pelle Erobreren) is a Danish novel written by Martin Andersen Nexø. The book was published in four volumes, beginning with Boyhood in 1906, Apprenticeship in 1907, The Great Struggle in 1909 and concluding with Daybreak in 1910.[1]

Pelle the Conqueror
AuthorMartin Andersen Nexø
Original titlePelle Erobreren
CountryDenmark
LanguageDanish
Published1906–1910

The novel follows the character Pelle Karlsson, who immigrates to Denmark from Sweden in 1877 at age eight. At 18, he moves from Bornholm to Copenhagen, and becomes a leader in the labour movement in Denmark, motivated by poor working conditions.

Analysis

Nexø based the novel on many of the experiences in his own life.[1] While written as a biography of a fictional character, Pelle the Conqueror reports on widespread economic and historic social matters.[2] The format is of a Bildungsroman.[3]

The novel was translated into English by Jesse Muir and Bernard Miall in 1913–1916. Despite this, it is not a popular novel in the English-speaking world.[1] Pelle the Conqueror has been compared to Les Misérables.[4]

Adaptations
Main article: Pelle the Conqueror

In 1987, a Danish–Swedish film adaptation directed by Bille August was released. August chose to adapt the novel because it is considered essential reading in Denmark.[5] It starred Pelle Hvenegaard as the young Pelle and Max von Sydow, and won the Palme d'Or at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival, the 1988 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and numerous other awards.[6]

In 2017, HBO Nordic and SAM Productions announced they were producing an eight-hour miniseries The Conqueror, written by Rasmus Heisterberg and based on Nexø's Apprenticeship, The Great Struggle and Daybreak.[7]

References
  1. Constantakis, Sara, ed. (2016). "Introduction". A Study Guide for Martin Andersen Nexo's Pelle the Conqueror. Gale Cengage Learning. ISBN 1410355195.
  2. Johanson, Joel M. (April 1919). "Pelle, the Conqueror: An Epic of Labor". The Sewanee Review. 27 (2): 221.
  3. Ingwersen, Niels (1984). Quests for a Promised Land: The Works of Martin Andersen Nexø. Greenwood Press. p. 20. ISBN 0313244693.
  4. Johanson, Joel M. (April 1919). "Pelle, the Conqueror: An Epic of Labor". The Sewanee Review. 27 (2): 224.
  5. Russell, Candice (19 March 1989). "Great Expectations At Heart Of Oscar-nominated Film". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  6. Dowd, A.A. (15 August 2013). "Pelle The Conqueror conquered at Cannes—and at the Oscars and Golden Globes". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  7. Roxborough, Scott (8 June 2017). "HBO Nordic Developing 'Pelle The Conqueror' Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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