Anders Westenholz


Anders Westenholz was a Danish psychologist and writer.

Overview

Anders Westenholz became a student in 1955, and a psychologist in 1969. From 1969-76 he was employed by Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening. He's been included in the prestigious Danish book of biographies, Kraks Blå Bog. He's been granted financial support or backing from Statens Kunstfond eight times throughout his career as a writer. In 1974 he received the RAI Prix Italia for his radio play Skriget fra Golgatha. In 1981 he received Gyldendals Boglegat and in 1988 Johannes Ewalds Legat.

His works

Anders Westenholz' works are generally divided into four groups: works of fiction, works on psychology, biographical works on Danish Sumatra rubber plantation manager Vilhelm Jung and works on his own famous great aunt Karen Blixen's life and works. He is credited as the ideas man behind two episodes of the popular Danish TV-series Huset på Christianshavn, namely #64, Karlas kald, scripted by Karen Smith and #68, Dagen efter dagen derpå, scripted by Henning Bahs.
As a writer of fiction he has written poetry, short stories, novels and plays, and in genres he has dealt with both social realism and the fantastic. During his authorship he has experimented a lot with genres and language structures, which led famous Danish writer and critic Poul Borum to write about him in a review: "Anders Westenholz is difficult to read, but worth every effort".
It's the fantastic genres that dominate Anders Westenholz' authorship, and he is one of the first Danish writers to seriously deal with fantasy, and he has also touched upon new age as a genre. And not just with youngsters, who he sometimes writes to, as a target group. Together with for instance Erwin Neutzsky-Wulff he is among the few Danish writers to write fantastic literature for mature readers.
Apart from his work as a writer of his own accord, Anders Westenholz has also worked as a translator. In this regard he will probably be best known for his translations of the American Dungeons & Dragons-related fantasy series DragonLance Chronicles and DragonLance Legends by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman as well as a number of works by Stephen King among others.

Works of fiction

Polyp, novel, 1968Martyrium, novel, 1970, short story in the anthology Og: en tekstantologi, 1971Det syvende æg, novel, 1972Stueantennen, radio play, 1972Venskab, evt. ægteskab, radio play, 1972Skriget fra Golgatha, radio play, 1973Glasmuren, novel, 1981Solen er kommet nærmere: digtcyklus, poetry, 1983Den gamle fra havet, short story in the anthology At ønske en pludselig forvandling: ny dansk prosa ; ed. Uffe Andreasen og Erik Skyum-Nielsen, 1983Genkomsten, novel, 1984Kommer straks, novel, 1984 - with Norman LindtnerSå I røgen?, novel, 1985 - with Norman LindtnerTeknisk uheld, novel, 1986 - with Norman LindtnerDen Udvalgte, novel, 1986Den sorte influenza, novel, Gyldendal, 1987Avinags kærlighed: radiospil i 2 dele, radio play, 1987Søhestenes dal: roman i tre forspil og et coitus interruptus, novel, 1990Rubindragernes kyst, novel, 1993Dødesange, poetry, 1995Fluernes farve, novel, 1996Fædrenes synder, novel, 2003Fanget i tiden, novel, 2004 - sammen med Damián ArguimbauLæseLyst 13: Mona Lisa på afveje novel; part of an easily readable book series targeted for challenged readers, 2005

Works on psychology

Hvad er meningen?: over- og undertoner i den daglige samtale, about interpersonal communication, 1990Tale er guld: mere om over- og undertoner i den daglige samtale, about interpersonal communication, 1991Hvilken psykoterapi skal jeg vælge?, patient guide on psychotherapy, 2004

Works on Karen Blixen

Den glemte abe: mand og kvinde hos Karen Blixen, 1985The Power of Aries: myth and reality in Karen Blixen's life, Louisiana State University Press, 1987; translated from Danish: Kraftens horn: myte og virkelighed i Karen Blixens liv, published in 1982

Works on Vilhelm Jung

Sådan gik det til, biography, 1988 - with Vilhelm JungDet var det, biography, 1989 - with Vilhelm JungSå er det nok, biography, 1990 - with Vilhelm Jung

Other works

Kolde Fødder, play, never printed, 1974Det er absolut relativt: føre og uføre i moderne fysik, science critique, 2001