How World War II affected Scandinavian countries is an issue common to this novel and to Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy to which I will shortly return (see also War In Art And Life) but, before I do that, let me refer you all to another Internet discussion of Three Hearts..., here.
Searching this, Poul Anderson Appreciation, blog will show how much I have already discussed Three Hearts..., e.g., the various Problems And Tests that Holger faces. (See also Troll.) Whether there is a lot more to be said remains to be seen - but there usually is.
2 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Simply put, as regards WW I at least, the Scandinavian countries (with the exception of Finland, then a Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire) were desperate to remain neutral and stay out of that ruinous conflict. And it suited the interests of both the Entente and Central Powers not to force Denmark, Norway, and Sweden to take sides.
It was otherwise in WW II. Denmark was occupied by Germany and invaded Norway. Finland, bitterly resenting how the USSR had attacked her in the Winter War, allied with Germany to get revenge on the hated Soviets (called the Continuation War). Only Sweden managed to remain neutral.
And of course THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS shows us Holger Carlsen joining the Danish underground resistance after returning to that country. I think Nils Bohr was the scientist he helped to escape to Sweden.
Ad astra! Sean
Kaor, Paul!
I read the review of THREE HEARTS AND THREE LIONS that you linked to, and I disagreed with the reviewer's comments that Holger Danske's treatment of Alianora was based on "chauvinism." The impression * I * got being that Holger was trying hard to treat Alianora decently, to make no promises or commitments to her as long as he was trying to get back to our universe. And that changed once he realized the Carolingian world was his original universe and that he wanted to stay there. THEN Holger felt free to commit himself to Alianora. That is not being "chauvinistic."
I also thought the reviewer had a poor understanding of the struggle between Law and Chaos and plainly overlooked certain crucial passages in THREE HEARTS touching on that conflict.
Ad astra! Sean
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