Tarjei Vesaas's work, written in Nynorsk, is defined by its simple, terse, and symbolic prose. His narratives frequently explore ordinary rural characters undergoing profound psychological dramas, depicted with immense insight according to critics. Themes of death, guilt, angst, and other deep human emotions are common, intertwined with the pervasive presence of the Norwegian natural landscape. Vesaas's command of the Nynorsk language has significantly contributed to its establishment as a vehicle for world-class literature.
This is the story of Mattis, a mentally handicapped man who lives with and is cared for by his older sister, Hege. Within their isolated, lakeside existence, Mattis cannot make sense of his tangled thoughts, frightening apparitions, surges of emotion and clever insights. When a travelling lumberjack attracts Hege's affections, the disruption is too much for Mattis to bear. This Norwegian masterpiece sensitively captures a mystic command of the natural world, the prison of unfulfilled time and the fragility of the human mind. The narrative is sparse, poetic and contemplative, with an ending that crescendos into heartbreak.
Vesaas's poetry showcases his unique sensibility and voice, offering readers a glimpse into the emotional depth and lyrical beauty that define his work. This bilingual selection includes forty-six finely translated poems, highlighting his achievements alongside his renowned fiction. The collection emphasizes the often-overlooked poetic side of Vesaas, inviting both new and familiar readers to appreciate his literary contributions beyond prose.
The House In The Dark is a powerful allegory and fable written in secret during Norway's German occupation. It vividly portrays a society's struggle to maintain unity while under the watchful eye of their invaders.
Earning its author a third nomination for the Nobel Prize, this tale centers on a crane colony arriving at its breeding ground to play out a delicate drama, ending with the rarely observed ceremony of the ritual dance. All is observed by a transfixed child who has frozen into his background and become a piece of nature himself. With a kind of cinematic impressionism, this novel voyages back to episodes from childhood, adolescence, and maturity as well as conducts speculative forays into the unknown. Unfolding in a series of delicate sketches that record the changing moods of human experience, this story is at once pervaded by a sense of melancholy and a sensuous appreciation of nature. A profound and beautiful book, it is the summation of a literary artist's first-hand experience and observation of rural life—of landscape and people.
Originally published in 1971, this English translation presents a compelling narrative that explores themes of longing and introspection. Set against a backdrop of evocative imagery, the story delves into the emotional journeys of its characters, capturing their struggles and aspirations. The title, "The Boat in the Evening," suggests a reflective tone, inviting readers to contemplate the complexities of life and relationships. Through rich prose, the book offers a profound look at human experiences and the passage of time.
"Eleven-year-old Unn is a recent arrival in a rural community where she lives with her aunt. Shy and introverted, she strikes up an unlikely friendship at school with a boisterous classmate, Siss, and an unusual bond develops between them. When Siss visits Unn they declare their intense feelings for each other, but Siss suddenly feels threatened and leaves. Unn, who has been wanting to share a secret, cannot face Siss the next day. Learning of a forthcoming school outing to the 'ice palace' - a giant structure formed by a frozen waterfall - she sets off alone to visit it never to return. Siss's struggle with her fidelity to the memory of her friend, the strange, terrifyingly beautiful frozen chambers of the waterfall and Unn's fatal exploration of the ice palace are described in prose of a lyrical economy that ranks among the most memorable achievements of modern literature."--Cover.
This novel relates the events that overtake a girl and her young brother when
they are left unaccompanied for the night on their parents' farm. They have to
cope alone when a group of strangers call at the house after their car breaks
down. číst celé
Tarjei Vesaas (1897–1970) beschreibt in »Der Keim« eine Gruppe von Inselbewohnern, die eine verschworene Gemeinschaft bilden. Ein Neuankömmling auf der Insel bricht in dieses fest gefügte familiäre Miteinander ein und wirft einen dunklen Schatten auf den sonnigen Sommertag. Sein triebhafter Wahnsinn lässt ihn zum Mörder werden – der Mord führt unvermeidlich zu einem zweiten, und die ganze Insel lädt Schuld auf sich. Vesaas schrieb »Der Keim« 1940, einige Jahre vor seinen berühmten Romanen, und leitete nach einem naturalistischen Frühwerk damit die Phase symbolstarker, poetisch verknappter Prosa mit enormer psychologischer Intensität ein. Im Hintergrund klingt noch der traditionelle skandinavische Kollektivroman der Zwischenkriegszeit an. Besonderen Reiz gewinnt das Buch durch sein Entstehungsjahr: 1940 befindet sich Norwegen unter nazideutscher Okkupation, der düstere Eindringling und die Reaktion der Gemeinschaft stehen unter politischen Vorzeichen. Kein zweiter Autor ist in der Lage, das Unbeschriebene und Unausgesprochene mit solch einer Spannung aufzuladen wie Tarjei Vesaas. Und kein zweiter Autor kann sich derart in seine Figuren einfühlen und eine Nähe erzeugen, die einen bei der Lektüre geradezu körperlich erfasst. Vesaas’ sparsame, aber umso eindringlichere Erzählweise lässt jede einzelne Szene, jeden Satz und jede innere Regung zum Ereignis werden, und Hinrich Schmidt-Henkel gelingt in der Übersetzung das Kunststück, dieses filigrane Spiel von Andeutung und Auslassung, von Zurückhaltung und Übersprungshandlung haarfein nachzubilden.
