About
This is a fan site for the excellent Danish author Peter Hoeg (Peter Høeg), the author of Smilla’s Sense of Snow and other great books. We have set up this site because we have enjoyed and greatly appreciate Peter Hoeg’s novels, and have noticed that there was no web site for him. We think he deserves more of a web presence!
During the last few days we have finalized the creation of what we consider a good looking, serious and attractive web design – including layout, formats, use of colors etc – for this site. We want to create a site worthy of the author. But the site is still under construction, and we will be adding more content about the author, his books and more.
The site is affiliated with Google and Amazon. You can support the site by using the links provided here. Just to be clear on this issue: This site is not expected to make us money! This is a hobby site for us – we do not expect to be paid for the hours spent on this. The very few dollars we may make on these ads will hopefully contribute towards the costs associated with developing the site, the software we and to costs of hosting the site.
We hope the site can help to make the literary qualities of Peter Hoeg more visible on the internet, and perhaps encourage a few more people read his books!
Peter Hoeg deserves a fan site for another reason as well: He has been the subject of a large number of petty attacks and lots of criticism in his own country, Denmark, seemingly from smallish souls envious of his international success. Hoeg, according to the people attacking him, was not politically correct (who cares! – art is art) and was far to optimistic, etc. These small-minded backstabbing attacks on Hoeg led many people, among them the internationally acclaimed Norwegian author Jan Kjaerstad, to publicly defend him. Kjaerstad wrote (in Politiken. 3 June 2006, reprinted in Danish Literary Magazine):
“.. it surprises me that a novel written by someone of Peter Høeg’s calibre, with such great intelligence, so much thought and originality, should be treated to such outpourings of pettiness and virulence. How could such a rollicking, generous, open book be greeted with so much gravity and severity, such closed minds and again: in my broad-minded old Denmark?”
Unfortunately for lovers of great literature, Peter Hoeg seems to have taken the critique to heart, and he has for many years withdrawn himself from the public scene in Denmark and for a long time he did not publish anything. Shame on Denmark!
If you have questions or comments, book reviews or stories you want to submit, or want to sponsor the site or post an ad here, get in touch with us at Peter (at) peterhoeg.com!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I greatly admire Peter Hoeg as a writer. Years ago I came upon his work and then read all his books. Just finished re-reading Borderliners. He deserves much more recognotion worldwide. I am not aware of the negative critique he received, but the Danes should be proud of him not belittle him.
I understand that Borderliners is mostly autobiographical, so maybe he has valid personal reasons to dislike publicity and criticism. He needs recognitions and he certainly has it. Great idea to create this fansite, is he aware of its existence? How can we make him know that he highly appreciated beyond the pettiness of his own folk?
Aliki
Uk (but originally from Greece)
The Quiet Girl is a lovely read! Fantastic! I’m suggesting it to my book club.
Despair not. When “The children of the elephant keepers” is finally translated into English, you are in for the greatest treat. It has been a very significant burden for my environment in London to hear me talk about a book they cannot read, yet.
Now I do not know if you are the sort of person who has no fear of having very the highest expectations, like FCK going through to the Champions’ League quarter final tomorrow. If you are this book will not disappoint, even if FCK does.
A truly astonishing writer. Thank you for your website! Happened upon Smilia’s Sense of Snow last year and could not put it down–not just for the suspense, but for the lesson in humanness at its center, and the exquisite writing. Just read Elephant Keeper’s Children–such a different yet equally exquisite book from Hoeg. Had to buy Woman and the Ape, the Quiet Girl, and Borderliners in paper form (I am a Kindle addict) because Kindle for some reason has not transformed these last 3 into electronic text. You see, I cannot be without a Hoeg book now. There is no one writing the way he writes.
I just finished reading Peter Hoag’s “The Quiet Girl”. I was intrigued to fully understand the mood Mr. Hoag was portraying; so, with “You Tube” recordings as my companion, the reflections waxed into a multi-sensory, time travelling, cross cultural education.
Multiple visits into an extra perceptive view of reality has expanded my own. Bravo, Mr. Hoag. Bravo. and thank you.
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