The Danish Girl

The Danish Girl

Authors

David Ebershoff

Publisher

Penguin Books

Publication Year

2000

ISBN

9780143108399

Pages

304 pages

Genre

realism

Format

novel

Item Type

Fiction

Annotation

Loosely inspired by a true story, this tender portrait of marriage asks: What do you do when the person you love has to change? It starts with a question, a simple favor asked by a wife of her husband while both are painting in their studio, setting off a transformation neither can anticipate. Uniting fact and fiction into an original romantic vision, The Danish Girl eloquently portrays the unique intimacy that defines every marriage and the remarkable story of Lili Elbe, a pioneer in transgender history, and the woman torn between loyalty to her marriage and her own ambitions and desires. The Danish Girl’s lush prose and generous emotional insight make it, after the last page is turned, a deeply moving first novel about one of the most passionate and unusual love stories of the 20th century.

Grade Level

9-12

Diversity Topics

LGBTQ; Transgender; transgender family member

Main Character

intersex adult

Race/Ethnicities

White / Caucasian

Keywords

wealth; marriage; love; painter

Diversity Impact

direct

The Danish Girl

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