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St. Olaf to host controversial Kierkegaard biographer

By Catherine Grochala '06
October 17, 2005

Professor Joakim Garff, author of Soren Kierkegaard: A Biography, will present his lecture, "The Inexhaustible Kierkegaard," at St. Olaf College on Monday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in Holland Hall 501. The Hong Kierkegaard Library and the Boldt Chair for the Humanities are sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the public.

Gordon Marino, professor of philosophy and curator of the Hong Kierkegaard Library at St. Olaf, recently reviewed Garff?s book for the Wall Street Journal, calling it "a page-turning story." Though Marino notes there has been some controversy surrounding the book and its sources, "I am not alone in thinking that Garff's lyrical work is far and away the best biography of Kierkegaard written to date," he says.

Joakim Garff is Associate Professor at the Soren Kierkegaard Research Center at the University of Copenhagen. His biography of Kierkegaard was published three years ago and translated into English this year. Garff's current project is creating a definitive edition of Kierkegaard's works in Danish.

Danish writer and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813?1855) is often referred to as the "father of existentialism." He wrote extensively on Christianity, the nature of truth and the importance of the individual. Still widely read today, Kierkegaard is best known for his contributions to the philosophy of existentialism.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.