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The AI crisis – we must break free of scientism - “The entire realm of spirit lies between the divine and the mortal – the sybil Diotima to Socrates, The Symposium (Plato).” The question is not whether AI (Artificial Intelligence) is just as capable as we humans at certain things. That is, can this computer and memory technology and its related software emulate human learning and …
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Time to acknowledge Pádraic Fiacc’s poetic genius - Seamus Heaney said next to nothing about his fellow Ulster poet Pádraic Fiacc, whose centenary is being celebrated this year with the publication of two new Fiacc collections – Unpublished poems, and a bilingual (English/Irish) collection, both being released in the run of this spring and summer (2025). Both books are poetic and …
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‘Nietzsche as Educator’ – some initial thoughts on my translation of Mette Blok’s important book - ‘The Sun’ (1909) by Edvard Munch adorns the cover of Mette Blok’s book on Nietzsche ‘Poignant’ is the word that sprang to my mind when I finished reading Danish academic Mette Blok’s groundbreaking book on Friedrich Nietzsche some years ago. I have now completed the translation of this book. (A thorough proofing process now awaits). …
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Kierkegaard’s ‘Point of View’ in Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian - “The true shape in which truth exists can only be the scientific system of such truth. To help bring philosophy closer to the form of Science, to the goal where it can lay aside the title 'love of knowing' and be actual knowing - that is what I have set myself to do.” – (The …
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Martin A Hansen’s ‘The Liar’ and Johannes Lye – What is his heart’s truest desire? - Dear readers I reproduce below some fascinating insights into my translation of Martin A. Hansen’s Løgneren (‘The Liar’, New York Review of Books Classics, 2023). These reviews appear on the Goodreads website and are therefore ‘public’, but nevertheless will be missed by most people outside of that sphere. Most of these English language reviews seem …
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Thomas Mann’s hidden debt to Danish Gothic - After six months or so of deep reading, I began writing up this essay at the beginning of what Christians celebrate as Lent (early March 2022). A time of fasting and reflection. It coincides with a volatile time in European and world history as Russian forces invaded Ukraine just prior to the start of Lent. …
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The invisible lives and philosophies of workers and immigrants - (Colmcille Press set to publish Paul Larkin’s latest novel) In the spring/summer period of this year, the well-known and respected Irish publisher Colmcille Press of Derry will publish The Hidden Nature of Irish Plastic. Below, there is an extract from this novel, which follows the exploits of a young Manchester Irish teenager, Peter Baker, who …
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Henrik Pontoppidan, Kierkegaard and ‘Danish Gothic’ (Henrik Pontoppidan as Educator) - Henrik Pontoppidan, Kierkegaard and ‘Danish Gothic’(Henrik Pontoppidan as Educator)byPaul Larkin The Danes are the masters of irony. Probably the best Ironists in the world. I don’t know how this has escaped the world’s attention, as Denmark has become more renowned for an alleged hygge, good beer, pastries and moody mists in detective films. In its …
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Why is there no fun in Kierkegaard studies? - Søren Kierkegaard enjoying his menneskebad – people bath – in which he indulged most days. Kierkegaard is too often presented as pure doom and gloom, and Kierkegaard studies have exacerbated that caricature a thousand fold. Why? Rider: In what follows below, I make no assertion that the Kierkegaard experts I mention favourably would necessarily agree …
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The Irish freedom questions at the heart of my novel ‘Éilis from the Flats’ - The Irish freedom questions at the heart of my novel Éilis from the Flats (‘Éilis from the Flats’ is an existential and psychological thriller. It is volume one of ‘The Good Friday Sting’ hexalogy) ‘Éilis from the Flats’ is the opposite of a right-wing Catholic tract The ancient idea of personal guilt (in ancient times …
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Why all the things you have been told about Kierkegaard are wrong - Celebrating Søren Kierkegaard’s birthday – 5th of May, 1813 For a change I’m simply going to shoot from the hip, as that wonderful North American saying has it, and tell you some things about Denmark’s only world renowned thinker without any detailed referencing. Søren Kierkegaard preferred to be called a thinker, rather than a …
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Kierkegaard’s vision of heaven - ‘For, what is it to be, and to want to be, a sovereign individual?’ – Søren Kierkegaard This is not about whether you believe in God, or are a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindu, a Buddhist or a Christian. It is primarily about thinking outside the box of human time – something we can all …
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The Irish Times takes me and my novel ‘Éilis from the flats’ seriously – well done. - In 1977, Padraic Fiacc – perhaps the greatest urban poet ever to come out of Belfast in our modern times, wrote a remarkable poem called ‘An attempt on his life’ *. Fiacc didn’t just write about the Irish war. For example, he was a great poet of myth, and myth busting also, but he …
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How I was vanished from my own book - (As we prepare to celebrate the UN’s International Translation Day on September 30th, this article on the – still prevailing – abysmal treatment of literary translators has been sent to three national representatives at the UN: Geraldine Byrne Nason (Ireland); Martin Bille Hermann (Denmark) and Karel van Oosterom (Netherlands). All three countries are relevant to …
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The Danish folk tale background to my 2019 novel, Éilis From the Flats, part of ‘The Good Friday Sting’ series - ‘Éilis’ – inspired by Danish author Steen Steensen Blicher’s folk tale – Hosekræmmeren/The Stocking Merchant After an unavoidable delay, American/Irish publisher Dalkey Archive Press will be publishing my novel Éilis from the Flats in August of this year in readiness for a full launch programme this autumn. See https://www.amazon.com/Eilis-Flats-Paul-Larkin/dp/1628972769 I began throwing out shapes …
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Terminal Innocence

Buy Terminal Innocence by Rifbjerg, Klaus, Thomson, C. Claire, Paul, Larkin (ISBN: 9781909408135) from Amazon’s Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Johanne, Johanne (Danish Literature)

Buy Johanne, Johanne (Danish Literature) by Sidenius, Lars, Larkin, Paul from Amazon’s Fiction Books Store. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction.

Danish Architecture and Society: From Absolute Monarchy to the Welfare State

Buy Danish Architecture and Society: From Absolute Monarchy to the Welfare State Illustrated by Nan Dahlkild (ISBN: 9788763546416) from Amazon’s Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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