Mikkel Fønsskov’s novel, “The Bright Night,” tells the story of Oluf Ring, a music teacher in Southern Funen and a national singing instructor, during the German occupation of Denmark. The book follows Ring, his friends, enemies, colleagues, and superiors, navigating the challenges and opportunities of the era. Despite some historical inaccuracies and tonal inconsistencies, the novel offers a sympathetic portrayal of a man behind beloved songs.

The novel consists of short, dialogue-driven chapters, aiming for an accessible and engaging reading experience. Fønsskov’s writing style is described as educated but not pretentious, and popular without being infantile, drawing comparisons to Marie Bregendahl and Morten Korch.

The story begins with Oluf Ring’s arrival in Skårup and his immediate desire to establish a choir. While town officials are hesitant, the idea is quickly embraced by locals, such as cheesemonger Dagny Winther and Miss Olsen, who eagerly offer their support.

However, the book has some shortcomings. The reviewer notes issues with proofreading, such as missing spaces after periods. A more significant concern is the portrayal of Nete’s experiences in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. The book’s light tone is deemed unsuitable for depicting the camp’s horrors, and the reviewer argues that using the same style for the camp as for the seminary and “meatball school” does not do justice to the victims’ fates.

Moreover, the genre of the book is somewhat unclear. Although Fønsskov conducted thorough research, he chose to fictionalize most characters other than Oluf Ring and took liberties with historical facts. For example, the book places Ring’s arrival in Funen in 1939, nine years later than the actual date.