Kierkegaard and the Publisher’s Peritext

Abstract Bruun and Hansen claim that Kierkegaard decided to publish Two Ethical-Religious Essays on commission with Gyldendal so as not to be linked to the penname H.H. Elsewhere, however, Kierkegaard indicates that the Essays, although they stand outside of the authorship, are to be understood in relation to it. Furthermore, Bruun and Hansen do not explain why Kierkegaard chose Gyldendal and not some other house. Drawing on Gérard Genette’s concept of the peritext, I argue that it was Gyldendal’s reputation as a leading theological publisher that led Kierkegaard to select it for a work demarcating the boundary of his authorship.