Reviews

• Fantastic!

  An unbelievable Book!!

• Story of the failed struggles of a crofter for securing his independence

  This is the story of the failed struggles of a crofter for securing his independence. He ultimately failed and was ousted by the powers that be from his land as ever in the history of crofters, the peasants. Human beings are not the protectors of one another, rather, they prey upon one another and the wily people eventually succeed as ever in stripping the gullible by hook or by crook. Bjartur of Summerhouses ultimately met the same fate. The fate of Bjartur is the well-known fate of the entire crofter/ peasant community throughout the world irrespective of the nationality. A masterpiece from a Nobel Literature Laureate!

• The Spirit of Iceland, The Man of Great Independence

  Sure, on its face, this seems the story of a single impoverished Icelandic crofter in the early 20th century. But Bjartur of Summerhouses, a man who has the blood of the Vikings coursing through his veins, is not that simple. Though this book follows the travails of this one great, independent man through times of boom and times of bust, it is no mistake that the title of the book is Independent People, and not Independent Person. Bjartur represents a generational cycle of hardship that seems impossible to break, sometimes as a caricature, sometimes as an exemplar, and sometimes as a champion of all poor Icelanders, the essence of what it means to stand in the face of extreme adversity with your chest puffed high and fists clenched. Bjartur's own code is such that to take even the smallest bite of bread from another man is an affront to his morality, to his very existence. Often, the code is his bane. Indeed, Bjartur is more than just an archetype of a certain class of people: he is also the spirit of Iceland. While countless other folk begin to inhabit cities, change political systems and leaders, fiddle with new-fangled technologies, build houses, adopt foreign religions, and tangle with new social norms, Bjartur remains steadfast. He resists the allures of new things, and instead harkens back to days of yore, of Vikings, of honor, of vengeance, of sheep as the holiest of all holies. There are, of course, other characters, and they are important in Bjartur's life, none more so than little Asta Solilja, his daughter and flower of his life. Much of the story follows these two throughout their struggles, as things keep happening around them, to them, against them, but rarely ever for them. Bjartur's sons, his wives, and his neighbors are also significant, but this novel stays lean on characters and strong on building their depth. Halldor Laxness was well deserving of the Nobel Prize for this tale. He writes with a deep reverence for the days of legend in Iceland. His rhythm is unique, his landscapes are colorful even in a country that can often be grey. The narrative is conversational, philosophical, easy. The dialogue is thorough, entertaining, and sometimes so ridiculous as to make you laugh, especially when Bjartur and his neighbors discuss matters under the pretense of great knowledge where they actually hold great ignorance. And isn't it the mark of a truly great novel that the same passages that make you laugh, a few pages later will make you shed a tear? Such is the beauty of Independent People. A must-read, for anyone.

• Historical fiction at its best

  Beautifully written and makes it feel as though you are experiencing the struggles. Not a cheerful story, but one that stays with you for a long time and makes you appreciate current times and comforts.

• Independent People

  The writing is beautifully descriptive, and the mis en scene very informative.

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