Independent People
Independent People by Halldor Laxness, published by Vintage in 2008, is a significant work in the realm of literature, spanning 576 pages in English. This novel, first published in 1946, presents a humane and epic narrative set in rural Iceland, focusing on Bjartus, a sheep farmer who is resolutely committed to achieving financial independence from his challenging environment. His relentless pursuit is complicated by the relationships with his family, particularly with Asta Solillja, the child he raises as his own, whose aspirations may ultimately drive a wedge between them.
Readers will find a rich exploration of family life and the harsh realities of rural existence within the Icelandic landscape. Laxness’s storytelling delves into themes of independence and the emotional struggles that accompany it, painting a vivid picture of both the physical and psychological challenges faced by Bjartus. This edition invites readers to engage with the complexities of human relationships against the backdrop of a stark yet beautiful setting, making it a notable addition to the canon of classic literature.
Official synopsis Publisher
The great Icelandic novel by the Nobel Prize-winning novelist Halldór Laxness
‘There are good books and there are great books and there may be a book that is something still more: it is the book of your life’ New York Review of Books
First published in 1946, this is a humane, epic novel set in rural Iceland. Bjartus is a sheep farmer determined to eke a living from a blighted patch of land. Nothing, not merciless weather, nor 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. As she grows up, keen to make her own way in the world, Bjartus’s obstinacy threatens to estrange them forever.
Written by the Nobel prize-winner dubbed the ‘Tolstoy of the North’, this is a magnificent portrait of the eerie Icelandic landscape and one man’s dogged struggle for independence.
‘I defy anyone to finish Halldór Laxness’s Independent People without wetting the pages with tears’ Jonathan Franzen, Guardian
‘The greatest Icelandic novel and surely one of the best books of the 20th century’ Hallgrímur Helgason, Guardian
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