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Loving Soren
Caroline Coleman O'Neill
By Alyce Wilson
Loving Soren tells the story of the real-life romance between
philosopher Soren Kierkegaard and Regina Olsen. Author Caroline Coleman
O'Neill springboards from actual writings, such as journals, letters
and other essays and stories written by the two during their lifetimes,
into an imaginative view of the relationship from the point of view
of Regina.
Their love affair is troubled, to say the least, complicated by Soren's
manic depressive disorder. Some moments he is passionate and witty;
at others, sullen and withdrawn. Throughout, Regina draws strength from
her faith, eventually relying on it to make peace with the situation.
Surprisingly, the book becomes a real page-turner. Much attention is
paid to the social mores of the time. For example, a gentleman caller
always had to be chaperoned and only arrive at certain times. This means
that even the smallest transgression from these expectations makes for
drama.
More than that, the book does an excellent job of peering inside Regina's
head, explaining what drew her to this brilliant but troubled mind,
illuminating her conflicted emotions throughout the relationship, and
providing insight into a relationship previously heard mostly from his
point-of-view. In many of his fiction works, Kierkegaard obliquely referred
to this romance, but only after his death did scholars begin to appreciate
how much this relationship shaped his writings and his thinking.
O'Neill deserves high marks for incorporating her research into the
novel without seeming heavy-handed or overly didactic. This book is
a romance in the truest sense of the word, casting a bright light on
the dimensions of love, desire, obsession, conflict that haunt far too
many relationships.
Rating: **** (Must Read)
Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005 (ISBN 0-8054-3098-X)
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