FOREWORD
TO THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE
EDITION
THISBOOKis a labor of love, begun and concluded in the late evening hours,
but the atmosphere of the Søren Kierkegaard Research Centre, where it is
my privilege to work, has been immensely inspiring. I have been the bene-
ficiary of many textual commentaries and explanatory notes that have been
produced in connection with the continuing publication ofSøren Kierke-
gaards Skrifter[Søren Kierkegaard’s Writings].
I would like to thank a series of friends and associates and other experts
who have listened to my disentanglements along the way, have read greater
or lesser portions of the manuscript, and have given valuable advice and
hints. It would be too much to single out each individual’s contribution,
so they will have to be satisfied with appearing in prosaic, alphabetical order:
Søren Bruun, Niels Jørgen Cappelørn, Ulrik Høy, Jette Knudsen, Klaus P.
Mortensen, Poul Erik Tøjner, Peter Tudvad, Barbara Vibæk, and Bodil
Wamberg. Finally, thanks from the heart to my darling wife, Synne—sine
qua non.
I would particularly like to take this opportunity to thank Princeton Uni-
versity Press and editor Ian Malcolm for their flexible and problem-free
cooperation. Above all, however, I must thank Bruce H. Kirmmse, whose
translation of a lengthy and demanding manuscript has lived up to my fon-
dest hopes, even down to the smallest details. Not only does Kirmmse pos-
sess an impressive knowledge of Kierkegaard himself and his historical con-
text, he also has an intimate knowledge of the Danish language and has
succeeded in transforming the Danish text into supple and accessible En-
glish. His perseverance, acumen, and attention to detail—and, not least, his
refreshing cheerfulness—have made our work together truly enjoyable.
Whatever errors and shortcomings, factual or moral, may have concealed
themselves nonetheless are entirely my own responsibility.
Joakim Garffxxiii