Review of David Ebershoff's Book: The Danish Girl

Einar Wegener was a Danish born painter married to Greta a California-born free-spirited lady. The title, "Danish Girl," was shocking when it was revealed that the Danish girl was actually both male and female. The Danish Girl is based on the true story of Einar who was born a hermaphrodite.

Greta and Einar are both artists. Einar is very well known and accomplished artist. Greta feverishly tries to become recognized as an artist also. She grows in her style as an artist and is sought after. She is tireless in her artistic endeavors. Greta is the one that made the first overtures toward Einar who is rather skittish and unapproachable.

Einar is not interested and Greta is disappointed. Greta moves back to California where she marries, has a baby that dies and then becomes a widow. She moves back to Denmark and soon marries Einar who had been her teacher.

Greta was trying to complete a portrait of a woman after her model didn't show up. She innocently asked her husband, Einar to pose in stockings and women's shoes for her. He was seduced by the experience and continued to wear women's clothing. Greta named the gentle, feminine Einar, Lily. Greta was a little disconcerted by Lily's more frequent appearances. Lily began living a life of her own. She began to live as a woman with Greta. She was referred to as Einar's cousin Lily.

Einar started frequenting peep-shows. He was ashamed of his addiction and couldn't understand the feelings that he had. He started making love with Greta less and less often. Greta was lonely and felt abandoned but loved Einar and Lily in spite of her mixed emotions. Greta is a real heroine in this novel. She contacts Einar's boyhood friend and ironically the relationship with Hans proves to be more of a comfort to her than to Einar. Hans is in love with Greta and yet she is still remains loyal to Einar and Lily. She is very moral in spite of her progressive nature.

Greta and her twin brother Carlisle both try to help Einar/Lily get the help that they need. Greta is tireless in hunting doctors to help Einar. Einar spends time in a hospital for women where Lily fits in perfectly. Lily has been slowly wasting away and is desperately in need of help. One doctor was ready to perform a lobotomy on Einar. I was desperately hoping that Einar would not have a lobotomy.

When Professor Bolk convinced Einar and Greta that he could help Lily turn into a woman, Lily is nervous but happy. She wants to go by herself which hurts Greta. Hans is more and more supportive of Greta and Lily is happy for her. Lily has her first surgery to remove her penis. Dr. Bolk finds that there are atrophied ovaries in Einar. He performs an experimental surgery where he grafts ovary tissue into Lily. After this surgery poor Lily is in constant pain. She is glad to be a woman but is physically miserable. She falls in love and wants to marry Henrik. She is nervous about confessing this to Greta. Greta once again is supportive and loving with Lily.

In the final surgery Dr. Bolk is to transplant a uterus into Lily so she can have children. Lily wants desperately to be able to have children after she marries Henrik. The marriage is to take place after her surgery. The love story between Greta and Einar/Lily is beautiful, tragic and very believable.

As much as I loved Pasadena, there was something even more compelling about the Danish Girl. This too is a must read. David Ebershoff has an uncanny ability to write about the pain of others in a very compassionate, sensitive manner. I find this a gift that not all authors are able to accomplish.