Heaven and Hell
- 215 pages
- 8 hours of reading
An poetic, heart-rending saga by Iceland's foremost contemporary writer.
Paradise and Hell Series
This series delves into the raw reality of life on a remote Icelandic coast, where humanity confronts the unforgiving power of nature. The narrative centers on the struggle for survival in a harsh environment, where daily existence often mirrors a descent into hell. Yet, amidst the profound challenges, glimmers of hope and beauty emerge through human connection and fleeting moments of grace. These stories explore deep questions of existence, faith, and resilience in the face of life's unyielding forces.
Recommended Reading Order
The Sorrow of Angels
- 331 pages
- 12 hours of reading
It is three weeks since the boy came to town, carrying a book of poetry to return to the old sea captain - the poetry that did for his friend Bardur. Three weeks, but already Bardur's ghost has faded. Snow falls so heavily that it binds heaven and earth together.As the villagers gather in the inn to drink schnapps and coffee while the boy reads to them from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Jens the postman stumbles in half dead, having almost frozen to his horse. On his next journey to the wide open fjords he is accompanied by the boy, and both must risk their lives for each other, and for an unusual item of mail.THE SORROW OF ANGELS is a timeless literary masterpiece; in extraordinarily powerful language it brings the struggle between man and nature tangibly to life. It is the second novel in Stefansson's epic and elemental trilogy, though all can be read independently.
The Heart of Man
- 368 pages
- 13 hours of reading
After coming through the blizzard that almost cost them everything, Jens and the boy are far from home, in a fishing community at the edge of the world. Taken in by the village doctor, the boy once again has the sense of being brought back from the grave. But this is a strange place, with otherworldly inhabitants, including flame-haired lfhei ur, who makes him wonder whether it is possible to love two women at once; he had believed his heart was lost to Ragnhei ur, the daughter of the wealthy merchant in the village to which he must now inexorably return. Set in the awe-inspiring wilderness of the extreme north, The Heart of Man is a profound exploration of life, love and desire, written with a sublime simplicity. In this conclusion to an audacious trilogy, Stefansson brings a poet's eye and a philosopher's insight to a tale worthy of the sagasmiths of old