Ian Giles, ed. Scandinavia Refracted. A Festschrift in Honour of Bjarne Thorup Thomsen

The process of refraction involves the bending of light as it passes through a new medium, leading to the formation of new perspectives and, in the case of the related phenomenon of rainbows, producing a thing of beauty.In a similar sense, Scandinavia Refracted offers new perspectives of interest that also disperse praises for the esteemed scholar Bjarne Thorup Thomsen.The many prisms of the festschrift investigate different thematic strands that connect to both Bjarne's research and his teaching.The festschrift begins with a brief glimpse into the life of Bjarne-as he is so fondly called by his colleagues in the book-a scholar and astute observer of the processes of becoming, relationality, and movement in Nordic literature.This introduction is followed by sections that echo the theme of refractions: "Representations of Scandinavia," "A Literary Lens on Scandinavia," "The Many Faces of Denmark," "Understanding Scandinavia," and finally "A Life in Print."Scholarly articles are interspersed with notes of thanks and anecdotes of fond memories with Bjarne.As far as festschrifts go, there is some deep erudition to be discovered by the reader of Scandinavia Refracted.Its topics are many and the history it spans is long.Discussions range from Arne Kruse's contribution on runes in Scandinavia to Anja Tröger's article on Vigdis Hjorth, and the book evaluates different points of contact that run through Nordic countries, the British Isles (Scotland, in particular), and mainland Europe.The lengths of the contributions vary greatly, and the same may be said about their scholarliness.This, however, is not an exacting criticism of the book, as it is precisely in its variety and range that the festschrift stands out.Its diversity of voices and topics can prove alluring to any reader interested in the history, literature, and culture of the Nordic region as well as further afield.Through this vast expanse of refracted perspectives, too, readers can find points with which to connect the book's immense trekking of spaces of history and literature.For example, Jane Garton's chapter on Amalie Schram's travel writing complements C. Claire Thompson's thorough discussion of the railway film, as Schram is described to suffer "train phobia" (114).Garton traces Schram's life through her writing as she moves about between Norway and Denmark as well as mainland Europe and describes her quests for mobility and belonging in great detail.Barbara Tesio-Ryan similarly investigates the writings and speeches of two women who are no less revolutionary than Schram in the