KRISTENSEN, TOM

born Aug. 4, 1893, London, Eng. died June 4, 1974, Thur, near Svendborg, Den. in full Aage Tom Kristensen Danish poet, novelist, and critic who was one of the central literary figures of the disillusioned generation after World War I. Educated at the University of Copenhagen, Kristensen taught briefly before he turned to writing. He was particularly influential as a literary critic for the left-wing Copenhagen daily Politiken (192463). He also translated much literature into Danish, including works by Friedrich von Schiller, Theodore Dreiser, D.H. Lawrence, and Erich Maria Remarque. His art was considered radical both politically and artistically. Kristensen's first volume of poetry, expressionistic in style, was Fribytterdrmme (1920; Pirate Dreams), which speaks of the beauty of the city and of technological achievements; the second, Pfuglefjeren (1922; The Peacock Feather), expresses his love of exotic-sounding names and brilliant colours and was inspired by a journey to China and Japan in 1922. A later volume of poetry, Den sidste lygte (1954; The Last Lantern), is meditative and philosophical. Hrvrk (1930; Havoc, 1968), his best-known novel, is a bitter examination of conscience and an account of the interwar years of his generation. His autobiography En bogorms barndom (A Bookworm's Boyhood) appeared in 1955.