Dan Turèll

Dan Turèll (March 19, 1946 – October 15, 1993), affectionately nicknamed " Danny" (English: Uncle Danny), was a popular Danish writer with notable influence on Danish literature. His work crossed a number of genres including autobiography, beat literature and crime fiction.
Turèll was born 19 March 1946 in Vangede on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Much of his works were partially autobiographical and inspired by his hometown, though is portrayal of Vesterbro is often considered romantic rather than realistic. His work often references themes Americanisation, drawing on the beat generation and the teachings of Donald Duck. Turèll published much of his material himself, especially early in his career. He wrote in both Danish and English and has been translated into Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish and Serbian.
He died from esophageal cancer and is buried at Assistens Cemetery. On Sunday March 19, 2006, on what would have been his 60th birthday, part of the town square of Halmtorvet in the Kødbyen area of Copenhagen was named (English: 'Uncle Danny's Square') in his honour. The square Dan Turèlls Plads in his native Vangede was named for him on 9 March 2007.
Selected bibliography
Dan Turèll was a highly prolific writer, contributing to numerous anthologies within his time and collections of his works continued to be arranged after his death. In addition to his literary work, he wrote a vast number of articles and essays for newspapers and various magazines. As a result, the following bibliography is in no way complete. Danish literary critic and writer, Lars Bukdahl, said that Turèll "only lived to the age of 47, and it is as though he knew he had to hurry".
Cut-up literature
Changes of Light, 1970
Occult Confessions, 1970
Speed of Light, 1970.
Opsvulmede byer i sigtekornet flagrende skud i bevidstheden (English: Inflated Cities in the Sight Fluttering Shots in the Consciousness), 1972.
Sidste forestilling bevidstløse trancebilleder af eksploderende spejltricks igennem flyvende tidsmaskine af smeltende elektriske glasfotos (English: Last Performance of Unconscious Trance Images of Exploding Mirror Tricks through Flying Time Machine of Melting Electrical Glass Photos), 1972
Feuilleton 1: Faraway Signs (English: Serial 1: Faraway Signs), 1972
Feuilleton 2: Laser Time Switch (English: Serial 2: Laser Time Switch), 1972
Feuilleton 3: Filmen synker igennem Deres øjne (English: Serial 3: The Film Sinks Through Your Eyes), 1972
Feuilleton 4: The Edison Kinetogram (English: Serial 4: The Edison Kinetogram), 1972
Feuilleton 5: It's Just Another Whistle Stop (English: Serial 5: It's Just Another Whistle Stop), 1973
Feuilleton 6: Not Fade Away ... (English: Serial 6: Not Fade Away ...), 1973
Feuilleton 7: Deres kodeskrift under Dobbelt Sol (English: Serial 7: Your Cipher under Double Sun), 1973
Feuilleton 8: Strangers in the Night (English: Serial 8: Strangers in the Night), 1978
Novels
Dét døgn, da - (English: That Day, When -), 1992
The Murder Series
The so-called Mord-serie (English: Murder Series) consists of ten novels and two volumes of short stories in the "American" school of crime fiction, known from writers like Raymond Chandler. All twelve volumes follow the same protagonist, a nameless detective / reporter, a freelance writer for a fictitious Copenhagen newspaper, plainly called Bladet (English: The Paper). In each novel the protagonist is hurled into a new murder mystery, often along recurring characters, centrally among them Politiinspektør Ehlers (English: Inspector Ehlers). The stories are self contained, but settings, relations, and characters evolve as the series progress.
The series primarily takes place in an alternate version of the borough of Vesterbro in Copenhagen, which serves as a backdrop for considerably more criminal endeavours than real life will probably ever match. Also certain aspects of the city's geography has been altered. Certain streets lie differently, for instance.
Mord i mørket (English: Murder in the Dark), 1981
Mord i Rodby (English: Murder in Rodby), 1981
Mord ved Runddelen (English: Murder by the Circle), 1983
Mord på Malta (English: Murder on Malta), 1983
Mord i marts (English: Murder in March), 1984
Mord i september (English: Murder in September), 1984
Mord i myldretiden (English: Murder during Rush Hour), 1985
Mord på møntvaskeriet og andre kriminalhistorier (English: Murder in the Launderette and Other Crime Stories), short stories, 1986
Mord i rendestenen (English: Murder in the Gutter), 1987
Mord i Paradis (English: Murder in Paradise), 1988
Mord på medierne (English: Murder on the Media), 1988
Mord på markedet (English: Murder on the Market), 1989
Mord i San Francisco (English: Murder in San Francisco), 1989
Poetry
Vibrationer (English: Vibrations), 1966
40 ark (English: 40 Sheets), 1969
40 linier (English: 40 Lines), 1969
Manuskripter I: Øjne/Further instructions (English: Manuscripts I: Eyes/Further Instructions), 1970
Manuskripter II: Af beskrivelsen af det/Hvidt lys (English: Manuscripts II: From the Description of It/White Light), 1970
Manuskripter om hvad som helst (English: Manuscripts about anything), 1971.
Bevægelser, formålsløst cirklende (English: Movements, pointlessly circling), 1971
Dobbeltskrift (English: Double Writing), 1973 - with Peter Laugesen
Onkel Danny's dadaistiske discjockey djellaba jazzjungle joysticks (English: Uncle Danny's Dadaistic Disc-Jockey Djellaba Jazz-Jungle Joysticks), 1973
Sekvens af Manjana - den endeløse sang flimrende igennem hudens pupiller (English: Sequence of Manjana, the Endless Song Flickering through the Pupils of the Skin), 1973
Lissom (English: Like), 1973
Digte m. m. (English: Poems and more), 1973 - with Peter Laugesen, Jens Smærup Sørensen, & Henning Mortensen
Onkel Danny's drivende dansende dirrende dinglende daskende dryppende danske dåse-digte (English: Uncle Danny's Driving Dancing Dithering Dangling Dawdling Dripping Danish Dried Poems), 1974
Onkel Danny's deliristiske jukebox jitterbug (English: Uncle Danny's Delirious Jukebox Jitterbug), 1974
Karma Cowboy (English: Karma Cowboy), 1974; shortened version released in 1983
Drive-in digte: non-stop neon-nat lys-avis (English: Drive-In Poems: Non-Stop Neon-Night Electric Newspaper), 1976
Nytår i Rom (English: New Year in Rome), 1976
Live-show feed-back: 5 sæt af Bøgernes Bog (English: Live-Show Feed-Back: 5 Sets of the Book of Books), 1976
3-D digte (English: 3-D Poems), 1977
Storby-Blues (English: Big City Blues), 1977
Vesterbrobilleder (English: Images of Vesterbro), 1977 - with photos by Kurt Lesser
Onkel Danny's små sorte sitrende swingende saxsoli sæbeboble-sange (English: Uncle Danny's Small Sable Shuddering Swinging Sax Solos Soapbubble Songs), 1978
Onkel Danny's rullende rallende regnvejrs ragtime rhapsodi (English: Uncle Danny's Rolling Rollicking Rainstorm Ragtime Rhapsody), 1979
Døgn-digte: udvalgte digte fra 70'erne (English: 24 Hour Poems: Selected Poems from the 70s), 1979
Ulysses' spejl (English: Ulysses' Mirror), 1981 - with Henrik Nordbrandt, illustrated by Barry Lereng Wilmont
Alhambra blues (English: Alhambra Blues), 1983
Kom forbi: sange & recitationer (English: Drop By: Songs & Recitals), 1984
Jazz-digte: et udvalg 1966-1986 (English: Jazz Poems: A Selection 1966-1986), 1986 - illustrated by Peter Hentze
Forklædt til genkendelighed: sange, digte & recitationer (English: Recognizably Disguised: Songs, Poems & Recitals), 1988
Himalaya Hilton (English: Himalaya Hilton), 1991
Gud & Gokke (English: The Lord & Hardy), 1992
Tja-a Cha-Cha (English: Tja-a Cha-Cha), 1993
Udvalgte digte 1: 1969-1974 (English: Selected Poems 1: 1969-1974), 2003
Udvalgte digte 2: 1973-1993 (English: Selected Poems 2: 1973-1993), 2004
Prose
Områder af skiftende tæthed og tomhed (English: Areas of Alternating Density and Void), 1970
Film (English: Film), 1973 - with Henrik Have
Vangede billeder (English: Images of Vangede), memoirs, 1975
Ezra Pound/William S. Burroughs/Lou Reed: 3 medie-montager (English: Ezra Pound/William S. Burroughs/Lou Reed: 3 Media Montages), 1975
Rockens rødder. Medie-montager II (English: The Roots of Rock. Media Montages II), 1975
SuperShowStjerneStøv. Medie-Montager III (English: SuperShowStarDust. Media Montages III), 1976
Onkel Danny fortæller (English: Uncle Danny Relates), memoirs, 1976
Af Livets Laboratorium. Medie-Montager IV (English: From the Lab of Life. Media Montages IV), 1977
MenneskeMyteMaskinen. Medie-Montager V (English: ManMythMachine. Media Montages V), 1977
Livets karrusel (English: The Merry-Go-Round of Life), 1977
Onkel Danny fortæller videre (English: Uncle Danny Relates Further), memoirs, 1978
Onkel Sams sønner. Medie-Montager VI (English: Uncle Sam's Sons. Media Montages VI), 1978
Alverdens vampyrer: første forestilling på Grusomhedens Teater eller En idés rejse fra 5000 f. Kristus til i dag (English: All the World's Vampires: First Performance of the Theatre of Cruelty or The Journey of an Idea from 5000 b. Christ until Today), 1978
Amerikanske ansigter: udvalgte artikler fra 70'erne (English: American Faces: Selected Articles from the 70's), 1979
Møde i Garda: en fortælling i forbigående (English: Meeting in Garda: A Story in Passing), 1979
Dan Turèll i byen: 50 historier af Københavns-krøniken fortalt fra dag til dag (English: Dan Turèll on the Town: 50 Stories from the Copenhagen Chronicle told from Day to Day), 1979 - illustrated by Peder Nyman
Onkel Danny fortæller i timevis (English: Uncle Danny Relates for Hours on End), 1979
Dan Turèll - et udvalg omkring en generation (English: Dan Turèll - A Selection About a Generation), 1981
Onkel Danny fortæller på talløse opfordringer (English: Uncle Danny Relates by Countless Requests), memoirs, 1982
Dan Turèll i byen igen: 50 historier af Københavns-krøniken fortalt fra dag til dag (English: Dan Turèll on the Town Again: 50 Stories from the Copenhagen Chronicle told from Day to Day), 1982 - illustrated by Peder Nyman
Omkring på Brevduebanen (English: Around at the Carrier Pigeon Track), 1982
Dansk dragefestival 1964-1984 (English: Danish Kite Festival 1964-1984), 1984 - with Bjarne Lynnerup
Sort film: en privat dagbog omkring kriminalgenren (English: Film Noir: A Private Journal about the Crime Genre), 1984
Shu-Bi-Dua - melodierne, teksterne, historien (English: Shu-Bi-Dua - the Melodies, the Lyrics, the Story), 1984 - essay by Turèll, note sheets and lyrics by Shu-Bi-Dua
Dan Turèll i byen så det basker: 50 historier af Københavns-krøniken fortalt fra dag til dag (English: Dan Turèll on the Town with a Vengeance: 50 Stories from the Copenhagen Chronicle told from Day to Day), 1985 - illustrated by Peder Nyman
Don Dobbeltliv og andre historier fra Stjernecaféen (English: Don Double-Life and Other Stories from Star Café), short stories, 1985
Nekrolog - blues for -- (English: Necrologue - Blues for --, 1987 - illustrated by Peter Hentze
Blues for Buddha (English: Blues for Buddha), 1988 - illustrated by Peter Hentze
Dan Turèll i byen - i dén grad!: 50 historier af Københavns-krøniken fortalt fra dag til dag (English: Dan Turèll on the Town - and how!: 50 Stories from the Copenhagen Chronicle told from Day to Day), 1988 - illustrated by Peder Nyman
As time goes by - :klip fra den fortsatte scrap-bog (English: As Time Goes By -: Cuts from the Continued Scrapbook), 1989
Dan Turèll i byen - og i baggårdene: 50 historier af Københavns-krøniken fortalt fra dag til dag (English: Dan Turèll on the Town - and in the Backyards: 50 Stories from the Copenhagen Chronicle told from Day to Day), 1991
Undervejs med Copenhagen All Stars: et jazzband på turné i Danmark (English: On the Road with Copenhagen All Stars: A Jazzband on Tour in Denmark), 1991
Dan Turèll i byen - for sidste gang: 37 historier af Københavns-krøniken fortalt fra dag til dag (English: Dan Turèll on the Town - One Last Time: 37 Stories from the Copenhagen Chronicle told from Day to Day), 1994
Just a gigolo: klip fra den store scrap-bog 1989-93 (English: Just a Gigolo: Cuts from the Great Scrapbook 1989-93), 1995
En nat ved højttaleren med sprogets mikrofon: rariteter, 1964-79 (English: A Night by the Speaker with the Mic of Language: rarities, 1964-79), 2003
Medie-montager: greatest hits (English: Media Montages: Greatest Hits), 2003
Charlie Parker i Istedgade: tekster om jazz (English: Charlie Parker in Istedgade: Texts about jazz), 2006
Spoken Word Recordings
Dansk tale: to monologer (English: Danish Speech: Two Monologues), MC, 1981
Dan Turèll & Sølvstjernerne (English: Dan Turèll & the Silver Stars), LP, 1991; CD, 1993 - with music by Sølvstjernerne
Pas på pengene! (English: Watch the Money), CD, 1993 - with music by Halfdan E
Glad i åbningstiden (English: Happy During Opening Hours), CD, 1996 - with music by Halfdan E
Dan Turèll & Sølvstjernerne vender tilbage (English: Dan Turèll & the Silver Stars Return), CD, 2004 - with music by Sølvstjernerne
Works in English
The Total-Copy System, poetry, 1971.
A Draft of XXX Space Cantos, crossover poetry, 1972
Here Comes Your 19th Nervous Breakdown/Stones: Last Words 1972, poem, 1973
Another Draft of Space Cantos, crossover poetry, 1974
A Third Draft of Space Cantos, crossover poetry, 1974
Feuilleton 8: Strangers in the Night (English: Serial 8: Strangers in the Night), 1978
And all that jazz: Copenhagen Jazz Festival (English: And All That Jazz: Copenhagen Jazz Festival), photobook; text in both Danish and English - photos by Gorm Valentin
Adaptations
His novels, Mord i mørket (English: Murder in the Dark) and Mord i Paradis (English: Murder in Paradise) both from 1981 were made into film in 1986 and 1988 respectively.
In 2006 a musical theatre production, Onkel Danny'', was made about his life.
References
External links
Turèll-samlingen (The Turèll Collection) at Vangede Public Library; homepage in Danish
Profile of Dan Turèll at The Danish Literature Centre
1946 births
1993 deaths
Danish male poets
Danish male novelists
Danish crime fiction writers
Writers from Copenhagen
Deaths from esophageal cancer
Deaths from cancer in Denmark
20th-century Danish novelists
20th-century Danish poets
People from Vangede
People from Gentofte Municipality
20th-century Danish male writers