'In my brief breath of life, might I find a way to fit light to paper?'In a land of ethereal beauty, within a culture soaked in myth, a young woman discovers the story that will change her life.In 2003, seventeen-year-old Australian exchange student Hannah Kent arrives at Keflavík Airport in the middle of the Icelandic winter.That night she sleeps off her jet lag and bewilderment in the National Archives of Iceland, unaware that, years later, she will return to the same building to write Burial Rites, the haunting story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the last woman executed in Iceland. The novel will go on to launch the author's stellar literary career and capture the hearts of readers across the globe.Always Home, Always Homesick is Hannah Kent's exquisite love letter to a land that has forged a nation of storytellers, her ode to the transcendent power of creativity, and her invitation to us all to join her in the realms of mystery, spirit and wonder.
Hannah Kent Book order (chronological)
Hannah Kent's work delves into the shadowed corners of the human psyche and history, offering narratives characterized by raw honesty and compelling prose. She masterfully crafts atmospheric tales that immerse readers in profound explorations of guilt, punishment, and the quest for redemption, often set against stark, isolated backdrops. Her distinctive voice and approach to storytelling create characters and situations that resonate deeply long after the final page is turned. Kent's literary significance lies in her ability to unearth complex truths through meticulously researched and emotionally charged narratives.
Devotion
- 432 pages
- 16 hours of reading
The powerful, moving and truly unique novel from the international bestselling author of Burial Rites and The Good People.
A mesmerising literary novel about a lost man in search of connection that is also a meditation on love, art and commitment, set against the backdrop of one of the greatest art events in modern history.
The Good People
- 400 pages
- 14 hours of reading
In 1825, in a remote valley of south-west Ireland, three women find their lives intertwined by unsettling events. Nóra Leahy, grieving the loss of her daughter and husband within the same year, is now responsible for her four-year-old grandson, Michaél, who suffers from a mysterious condition that leaves him unable to walk or speak. Overwhelmed by her circumstances, Nóra hires a servant girl named Mary. As Mary becomes part of the household, she hears whispers about the "blasted creature" that has brought sorrow to Nóra's home. Isolated and surrounded by suspicion, Mary and Nóra seek the help of Nance Roche, a figure shrouded in local lore. Despite the community's wariness of her, Nance is rumored to possess the knowledge to confront the supernatural forces affecting Michaél. The narrative unfolds with a blend of lyrical prose and tension, exploring themes of grief, isolation, and the haunting presence of the past. As the women navigate their fears and the mysteries of their world, their journey becomes a poignant reflection on the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones amidst a backdrop of societal superstition and tragedy.
The final days of a young woman accused of murder in Iceland in 1829. Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution.