Howard V. Hong, the former Director of the Howard and Edna Hong Kierkegaard Library at St. Olaf College, is
the General Editor of Kierkegaard's Writings.
Hong, Edna H. :
Edna H. Hong is a poet, writer, and translator who has collaborated with Professor Hong on other English translations
of Kierkegaard's works.
Summary
The various kinds and conditions of love are a common theme for Kierkegaard, beginning with his early Either/Or,
through "The Diary of the Seducer" and Judge William's eulogy on married love, to his last work, on the
changelessness of God's love. Works of Love, the midpoint in the series, is also the monumental high point, because
of its penetrating, illuminating analysis of the forms and sources of love. Love as feeling and mood is distinguished
from works of love, love of the lovable from love of the unlovely, preferential love from love as the royal law,
love as mutual egotism from triangular love, and erotic love from selfgiving love. This work is marked by Kierkegaard's
Socratic awareness of the reader, both as the center of awakened understanding and as the initiator of action.
Written to be read aloud, the book conveys a keenness of thought and an insightful, poetic imagination that make
such an attentive approach richly rewarding. Works of Love not only serves as an excellent place to begin exploring
the writings of Kierkegaard, but also rewards many rereadings.
Table of Contents
Historical Introduction
Love's Hidden Life and Its Recognition by Its Fruits
You Shall Love
You Shall Love the Neighbor
You Shall Love the Neighbor
Romans 13:10. Love Is the Fulfilling of the Law
Love Is a Matter of Conscience
Our Duty to Love the People We See
Our Duty to Remain in Love's Debt to One Another
Love Builds Up
Love Believes All Things - and Yet Is Never Deceived
Love Hopes All Things - and Yet Is Never Put to Shame
Love Does Not Seek Its Own
Love Hides a Multitude of Sins
Love Abides
Mercifulness, a Work of Love Even If It Can Give Nothing and Is Able to Do Nothing
The Victory of the Conciliatory Spirit in Love, Which Wins the One Overcome
The Work of Love in Recollecting One Who Is Dead
The Work of Love in Praising Love
Conclusion
Supplement
Key to References
Original Title Pages of Works of Love, First and Second Series
Selected Entries from Kierkegaard's Journals and Papers Pertaining to Works of Love
Editorial Appendix
Acknowledgments
Collation of Works of Love in the Danish Editions of Kierkegaard's Collected Works
Notes
Bibliographical Note
Index
