Written in 1942 during the German occupation of Denmark, Danish writer Dinesen (a nom de plume for Baroness Karen Blixen) weaves beautifully rich tapestries that are her short stories, believing in the power of myth, romance and medieval fable as bulwarks against the bleak “wintry” landscape of WWII. Great contrast with my “summery” reading spot: Standish-Hickey State Park along the beautiful Eel River.