Considered a “myth” because of its message about the consequences of recklessness, this story by Johannes Jensen, follows a young couple on a motorcycle as they speed across the Danish island of Funen to catch a car-ferry. The rider feels invincible and the trip becomes not just a race against time, but also a race against a car heading in the same direction that refuses to let them pass. As the motorcycle pulls alongside, the couple learn that you can’t cheat death. They do catch a ferry, but not the one they had intended. Themes include needless risk-taking, hubris, mortality.

If you are confused about their arrival on one ferry and race across the island to catch another, it is because the first was the then railroad ferry from Jutland. They need to cross the island in order to catch a sea-ferry to return to Copenhagen.

Did They catch the Ferry? Text / PDF (2,050 words)

In 1948 the Danish government commissioned a film version of the story to promote road safety. You can watch this here on the website of the Danish Film Institute