The Good Life Beyond the City: Perspectives from Danish Literature

Counterurbanisation refers to the movement of people from cities to the countryside, reversing the long-standing trend of migration from rural areas to urban centres. In After the City, Jon Helt Haarder explores how Danish literature portrays this movement and shapes ideas about life beyond the city.

The project investigates not only people who physically move to the countryside, but also the ideals that may motivate them, such as the belief that rural life is healthier and offers greater peace and a stronger sense of meaning.

Drawing on contemporary literature, works from around 1900, and Danish song lyrics, the project examines these works in the context of changing relationships between urban and rural areas. In doing so, it explores how literature both reflects and shapes our ideas about them. It will also offer new perspectives on the works themselves and on Danish literary history.

Another focus is the public debate about the relationship between urban and rural areas. Different perspectives emerge in these discussions, including in the run-up to general elections. In rural areas, concerns often centre on economic inequality and differences in infrastructure. In cities, the debate tends to focus more on animal welfare and the damage caused to landscapes and agriculture.

Although these perspectives differ, they are closely connected. Through its engagement with literature, the project explores what the countryside and the city mean in modern Denmark.