A celebrated Danish author faces a defamation lawsuit after an island restaurateur claimed that a character in his latest novel mirrored him too closely. The case could have major implications for Danish fiction and artistic freedom.
A Novel Lands in Court
A book usually sits on a shelf or travels in a suitcase. Now, one has found itself at the center of a courtroom drama. Danish author Thomas Boberg and his publisher, Gyldendal, are being sued by restaurateur Frank Strathe for defamation following the release of Boberg’s 2024 novel *Insula*.
The story follows a character named Thomas who lives on a fictional island modeled after Fejø, where Boberg also resides. Soon after its release, some island residents voiced anger over how the book depicted their community. They claimed that the novel blurred the line between fiction and reality in unflattering ways.
Frank Strathe went further than his neighbors, filing a lawsuit demanding compensation of 90,000 Danish kroner, an apology, and the withdrawal of the book. He argues that a character named “Rolf” is a thinly veiled version of himself.
When Fiction Feels Too Real
In *Insula*, “Rolf” owns a restaurant called Knautenburg and drives a luxury car, just as Strathe runs Strathenborg and owns a high-end vehicle. In the novel, Rolf is even arrested for drunk driving without a license or plates—something Strathe insists never happened.
Despite Boberg’s testimony that the criminal incidents were entirely fictional, Strathe maintains that nearly everything else mirrors his real life, including a dinner described in the book that he says took place at his actual home.
Debating the Limits of Literary Freedom
The trial in Nykøbing Falster District Court has sparked debate in Denmark about how far authors can go when drawing from real experiences. Should fiction be protected even if characters resemble identifiable people?
Defamation suits over novels are uncommon in Denmark, but the outcome could set a precedent. Strathe argues that writers must respect the boundaries of truth and reputation, while many in the literary world warn that limiting fiction would stifle creativity.
Gyldendal’s publishing director, Simon Pasternak, expressed concern over what could happen if the court rules against the author. If writers cannot use details from their lives, he said, Danish literature would lose the authenticity that shaped many classics. He pointed out that important works, such as Tove Ditlevsen’s “Gift” and Suzanne Brøgger’s writings, drew deeply from personal experience. Without that freedom, many beloved books might never have existed.
Principles and Personal Cost
Boberg reportedly told supporters online that the issue is about a writer’s right to create freely and follow personal ethics. Strathe, on the other hand, says he never wanted to appear in a novel, even under an altered name. To him, defending his identity is worth the stress and attention the trial has brought.
While Gyldendal views *Insula* as “clearly a work of fiction,” Strathe insists that the portrayal crosses into defamation. For both sides, the dispute goes far beyond the pages of one book. It raises the question of whether art inspired by life can ever remain safely fictional.
The court will deliver its verdict on December 19. Until then, the Danish literary world is watching closely. Whatever the outcome, the case is poised to shape how authors in Denmark balance reality and imagination in their work.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Tove Ditlevsen – The Rocky Life Behind the Copenhagen Trilogy
The Danish Dream: Best Lawyer in Denmark for Foreigners
TV2: Forfatter og øboer i heftigt retsopgør
