The Wolves of Eternity

More about the book

From internationally bestselling author Karl Ove Knausgaard comes a sprawling novel that explores our responsibilities to each other and ourselves, as well as the limits of understanding life. In 1986, twenty-year-old Syvert Løyning returns home to southern Norway after military service. One night, he dreams of his deceased father and realizes he knows little about him. This prompts Syvert to investigate his father's life, uncovering clues linked to the Soviet Union that reshape his understanding of his past and identity. However, when his mother falls ill, he must care for his younger brother, Joar, leaving little room for introspection. In present-day Russia, Alevtina Kotov, a biologist at Moscow University, is traveling with her son to celebrate her stepfather's eightieth birthday. Once bright and ambitious, Alevtina now finds herself in a life she never intended, lacking clarity about her choices. Raised by her stepfather, she had little interest in her biological father until she learns he passed away, leaving behind two sons—Joar and Syvert. When Syvert and Alevtina eventually meet in Moscow, their contrasting perspectives on life emerge. As a bright star appears in the sky, it highlights the wonder of human existence and the mysteries beyond our understanding, set against the political and cultural landscapes of the 1980s and today. The narrative delves into relationships—with each other, nature, and the deceased.