The Dreamer - Becoming Karen Blixen (Drømmeren) - First Season

Inspired by Karen Blixen's life and letters with excerpts from The Dreamers.

I know you don't want to lend me the money.

We've talked about this, Karen.

I'm sorry. I can't help you.

But I'm losing the farm!

It's all I have.

THE DREAMER

BECOMING KAREN BLIXEN

LONDON, SEPTEMBER 1935

I absolutely love your idea for the next book -

- and I can't wait to read about your adventures in Kenya.

And I can't wait to write it.

Now, when do you imagine we can plan to publish?

Currently I'm gathering all the materials.

My letters from Africa, and I ...

It's far too early to say, of course. Forgive my eagerness.

- I'm so excited by it all. - Thank you.

Do we know how your Gothic Tales have been received in Denmark yet?

They're being released tomorrow. So I'll see some reviews when I return.

Karen, my beloved! It's so wonderful to have you home.

- How are you feeling? - Good! It exceeded my expectations.

Constant Huntington gave me a very favorable contract.

Well done.

He suggested we call the book Out of Africa.

Out of Africa, what a beautiful title.

Now I just have to write it.

Thank you.

Please lend me my letters from Kenya. I hope to be able to refer to them.

- Of course, Karen. - Yours too, Bess.

You two have had unique discussions in your correspondence.

Will you ask Uncle Aage? My letters to him were all about the farm.

Of course, dear.

What do the papers say? They must have reviewed Seven Gothic Tales.

- You receive great praise from Politiken. - Great praise.

And Berlingske? What does Frederik Schyberg say?

Schyberg's review ... There's no need for you to read it.

"A piece of artistic pastiche by a twisted female author."

If it's any comfort, bad publicity isn't necessarily bad for sales.

"One can see why the author hesitated -

- to translate her American success into Danish.

First and foremost, it is a trickery of linguistic illusion."

- Karen, everyone gets bad reviews. - This is not a review.

It's a character assassination.

- Schyberg. - Yes.

- He was one of the critics on the list. - The list?

Of the ones who were to get preferential treatment!

Oh, the list. Yes, of course.

I met with the publisher, and we planned out in great detail -

- how to ensure a good reception of the book.

I assure you they took all your ideas into account.

They did not contact Schyberg nor Elfelt or Stangerup!

They didn't give an excerpt to Tilskueren nor read it on the radio!

The marketing might have been easier -

- if the translation hadn't taken you a year.

Can we agree, Knud, that the author's job is to write the book?

And that the publisher's job is to promote it?

I can ask the publisher for a written account of their PR efforts.

- If that will make you happy. - Yes, please, Knud.

The dhow was following its steady course towards Zanzibar -

- as Lincoln Forsner's story took yet another turn.

The mysterious Olalla appeared -

- then disappeared before his very eyes.

We searched the entire hotel.

But Olalla was nowhere to be found.

That was the holy Rosalba of Saumur.

No, that was Madame Lola of Lucerne!

Rosalba!

A porter told us she'd run off into the mountains.

It was terrible weather outside with heavy snowstorms.

But despite the warnings, we didn't hesitate to follow her trail.

Olalla! Olalla!

Olalla!

Rosalba!

There's an entire continent of people who love your stories.

You've written a book that's ahead of its time.

I never should have published it here.

The next will be very different.

It will be about the Kikuyu, the Maasai, the landscape -

and the large animals.

It will be about Africa, not about me.

Here are my letters.

To think, all the adventures you have shared with me.

- There's enough for many novels. - Thank you.

Are you in pain?

It's not so bad.

What does Huntington write?

He writes that he's very pleased with what he's reading.

That's wonderful.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- Coffee, Bess? - Yes, please, that would be nice.

I had a telephone conversation with Aage last night.

- Did you ask about my letters? - Yes.

But he told me that a certain Baron Blixen -

is writing a book about Kenya.

Aage had been to Lund, and he'd read an interview with your former husband -

- and in addition to talking about his safaris with Hemingway -

- he also mentioned he was writing a book about his life in Kenya.

But Blix can't put two words together.

And you don't become Hemingway from being hunting buddies.

Thank you, Knud, that's a great help. Talk to you soon.

Yes, I will tell her. Good. Talk to you soon. Bye.

He didn't know anything, but he'll call a publisher he knows in Stockholm.

- Is he calling you back? - Yes. He'd call the publisher now.

Do you think he's out for revenge? For that thing with Baron Guildenstern?

Perhaps it hit too close to home.

Oh, and your editor has been trying to get a hold of you.

You aren't returning his calls.

- Do the reviews still haunt you? - A lot of things do.

They want me to write a 'little' short story for a ladies' magazine.

You could say no.

It's their attitude. They don't take my work seriously.

So, let's see now.

Knud has spoken to a Swedish publisher who confirmed their contract with Blix.

- He has no shame. - No. If you could at least read it.

Gyldendal has been offered the Danish rights.

God help us if it's also printed in Danish.

Whom do we know at Gyldendal?

Ingeborg Andersen is vice president. I met her when we did at Forum.

Denys.

I'm afraid not.

It's me.

So you don't like that I'm writing a book?

Go. Get out.

What are you afraid of?

Are you afraid I'll write about your seizures, your illness, abortions and ...

Your love affair?

You cannot possibly think I would write about your syphilis.

You mean your syphilis.

Perhaps.

And you?

What are you working on?

Do you intend to slander me again?

I don't intend to write about you at all.

But Denys ... I assume you will write about him.

Something ... beautiful.

How can you be here if you're not dead?

Perhaps you are losing your mind again.

Baroness.

It is correct that we are contemplating publishing Bror Blixen's book.

- But nothing has been decided? - No, we're uncertain about the genre.

It comes down to either a hunting book or memoirs.

Does it contain anything personal about me or his current wife?

Not in the excerpts I have read.

- And Denys Finch Hatton? - I think it's mostly a hunting book.

You wouldn't happen to have a copy?

I cannot share that with you, but I could take a peek for you, Baroness.

I suppose it seems a bit dramatic, but you see -

- I've been wanting to write this book for years -

- and now it feels like Blix is trying to steal it away from me.

You are writing a book about Africa?

Gyldendal would be most interested.

I already signed with Reitzels.

I don't know what our director was thinking -

- but for you to not publish at Gyldendal is a travesty.

We have a family connection with Reitzels.

Surely, you're not obligated by such matters.

You don't think I owe Reitzels my loyalty?

Good Lord, no. How did your tales sell in Denmark?

12,000 copies.

I think you could sell more with us.

Perhaps twice that.

Well, I would never sign with the same publisher as my former husband.

The more I think about it -

- the more I think hunting books are passé.

Elle ...

I've been all over town for a birthday present for Mother.

I just can't find anything.

What are you getting her?

A painting by one of the Odsherred painters.

- A painting? - Yes, she's turning 80, after all.

That's a wonderful idea. I wish I had thought of that.

Knud says Blix is writing about Kenya.

Yes, well, it appears it won't be published here in Denmark.

Not by Gyldendal, at any rate.

- How is your novel coming along? - It's come to a halt.

Shall I have a look?

Let's get Mother's birthday over with first.

I apologize for being late.

- Karen. - Knud.

- I ordered salmon for you. - I'm afraid I only have time for coffee.

I spoke to Reitzels the other day.

- The first print is almost sold out. - Yes, it's going well.

But they couldn't tell me if there was a second print underway.

- Well, that depends on your attitude. - How so?

Such as the short story they asked you to write for the magazine.

How are those two things connected?