Product Description

An engrossing and humane modern classic, imbued with the lyrical force of medieval ballads and Nordic myth.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35203 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-28
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

Synopsis
Set in Iceland, this story is imbued with the lyrical force of medieval ballads and Nordic myth.

From the Back Cover
'I love this book. It is an unfolding wonder of artistic vision and skill - one of the best books of the 20th century. I can't imagine any greater delight than coming to Independent People for the first time.'

An engrossing and humane modern classic, imbued with the lyrical force of medieval ballads and Nordic myth.

Bjartus is a sheep farmer hewing a living from a blighted patch of land in Iceland. After 18 years of servitude to a master he despises, all he wants is to raise his flocks unbeholden to anyone. Nothing, not inclement weather, not his wives, not his family will come between him and his goal of financial independence. Only Asta Solillja, the child he brings up as his daughter, can pierce his stubborn heart. But she too wishes to live independently - and when Bjartus throws her from the house on discovering she is pregnant, her more temperate determination is set against his stony will.

'Laxness is a poet who writes to the edges of the pages, a visionary who allows us a plot: he takes a Tolstoyan overview, he weaves in an Evelyn Waugh-like humour: it is not possible to be umimpressed.' Fay Weldon on her 'Books of the Century' Daily Telegraph

'Marvellously fluent and unaffected ... one of the most original and skillfully written novels of the 20th century.' Carolyne Larrington T.L.S

About the Author
HALLDÓR LAXNESS (1902-98) was born near Reykjavík, Iceland. His first novel was published when he was 17. The undisputed master of contemporary Icelandic fiction and one of the outstanding novelists of the twentieth century, his work was translated into more than 30 languages. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955.
J.A. THOMPSON was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1910. After graduating in English and Nordic language and literature from the University of Leeds he worked as a school teacher in Akureyi in the north of Iceland from 1931-2 before moving back to Berwick. His translation of Independent People was his only work of translation, the labour of many years. It is generally accepted to be the finest translation into any language of Laxness's masterpiece.

Customer Reviews

One of the best translations I've read...
I completely disagree with iviehoff's comment below about the translation. I found it to be beautifully done, lyrical and unforced, conveying the nuances of Icelandic whilst seeming natural in English. And pretty much every critic agrees with me. So don't let that put you off; this is a great, great book.

Northern tragedy
I read Independent People a year ago. I am interested in the strength of feeling sparked off by this book, as can be seen in nearly all these reviews: very few books spark off such passion and such a multitude of responses! I agree with one of the main points found in the reviews: it's a book that remains with you permanently. Personally I ended with a real dislike of Bjartur, for his cruelty and intransigence. It was very interesting to read Njal's Saga and Laxdale Saga at the same time, this helped with understanding Bjartur's inner world. Apart from the main character's tale, the novel powerfully paints a landscape, a culture and human tragedy. Unforgettable sequences abound, for instance Bjartur's epic hunt and river crossing on the reindeer. Laxness manages to make you feel as much sorrow for the animals as the people. It remains in my mind one of the more inhospitable, but beautiful and moving reads. It may sound unlikely, but there is also a sense of humour lurking there as well.

Forget your own world for a month or two....
Where to start with this book? It is fantastic. The world portrayed is a microcosm where every little movement, everysign is heavy with meaning. It is a slow burner but underneath the characters frosty, terse words a whole gamut of fragility, power and desire is worked out. It can seem impenetrably exotic, a strange misty hinteland of the human soul, but it is worth the effort. It is hard to believe people can endure so much with aparrent equanimity, and then you realise two or three hundred pages later that they didn't after all. One qualm only- this is not a quick read, or a dip in and out kinda book. It really requires effort at times, but you get what you pay for in this case. Brilliant!