Product Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Tarjei Vesaas, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 2463 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Customer Reviews (1)

A sad but great tale about adolescent life in wintercold Norway
This is one of Vesaas' last books, and quite well-known in literary circles, both in Norway and abroad. The book spins around two girls living in rural Norway in their eleventh winter. One of the girls has just moved to the tiny village, and instantly forms a bond of friendship with the leader of the pack of children at their school, namely the other girl. Then something sad happens that I won't reveal. The tale spins around these happenings: the struggle against the dark forces of the human mind, and the experience of growing up. The tale is a short read, and is Vesaas at his most typical style of writing. I really enjoy this book, and I've read it several times.

So if you want to get to know one of Norway's greatest authors, almost up there at Knut Hamsun's level, then this would be a great place to start. The author died in 1970, but his anti-modern thought was quite present in most of his books, although an annoying streak of pacifism and humanism is present in some of his works. But this is not one of those books, so no reason to avoid this great read from the winter nights of rural Norway.

(I read a different edition of the book)
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Customer Reviews (1)

Simply not a tale Europa needs to hear
This book is an allegorical tale about the Second World War in Norway, and many different characters' experiences during this period. Nothing is written plainly as it was, and everything is surreal. Most of the book goes on in the mind of the character, and I don't really know what to say about it all. Some of the book is quite nice, and it shows how the Norwegians often reacted to the war, with various views being allowed to express themselves. This is not too bad, but I just don't see the point of this book, the overwhelming amount of propaganda for one of the sides of the terrible fratricide that was the Second World War, just doesn't seem to justify this type of novel.

Shortly put: Stick to Vesaas' other novels, because even though this isn't bad literature, its not necessary either, considering all the other great books of the world you could rather be reading. Just check out my other reviews if you are all out of ideas, and I'm sure you'll find something to your taste. I've read all of Vesaas' 35 books, so I feel I do have *some* wisdom when it comes to his books.

(I read a different edition of the book) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Dignity of the Farmer
Depicted in early twentieth century rural Norway, this novel is perhaps the most sympathetic and sensitive depiction of a farmer's life that I have read.

Even as a young farm boy our central character, Per, has a life as deeply rooted to the soil as a tree is to the Earth.While other people travel freely from place to place, the routine chores and immeasurable demands of the farm preclude lackadaisical outings. Isolation is measured in the paucity of folks he meets, beyond the odd tramp who wanders by in hopes of spending the night in the hayloft.Reconciling the contradictions of farm life pits Per conscientiously against his father.If dad is so good to animals, as everyone says, how can he so summarily slaughter them?Vessas poignantly lays bare the harsh realities of life and death in the country.Most of us have no contact with the animals we eat, other than jockeing shiny carts through sterile aisles, choosing from the wide assortment of choice cuts, wrapped in their neat cellophane packaging. What it must be like to be affectionately nuzzled by the very creature that will the next day be served up to us on a dinner platter.To Per as a mature adult, the act of killing is always dreaded and pushed-off; it is an act born with a solemn sense of responsiblity---not with a cavalier flippancy, or as a sort of macabre sport!


Beyond a rather condescending suburban attitude I held as a youth that demoted farm culture to the lowest tier,Per's struggles allowed me to empathize with a way of life that was largely foreign and misunderstood by me.It is ironic that we are so removed from a rural heritage that a little more than a century ago most of us found hope and comfort in.

For further information about Tarjei Vesaas see: 'Columbia Dictionary of Modern European Literature' (Second Edition) pgs. 848-849

One of the main works in the Norwegian rural literary tradition
This is possibly Vesaas' main work, and at least among his 5 best tales. The book is about Per, the farm he is born on, and everything that comes from that. It is simply put the classic European tale of pre-modern rural life. The family is large; their lives revolve around the different seasons and not much decadence at all is to be found. You could call this an epic tale, since it spans Per's entire life; from childhood to old age. He has no desire to take over the farm from his father, but as the time passes by, he realizes that he too is part of the great cycle, hence the title. I can't recommend this enough; the only annoying part I can think of is the fact that I'm unsure if the follow-up novel has been translated to English. Although, don't let that be any reason to keep you away from this book, because if you want to read one of the North's greatest author at his best, then this is the place to start. Two thumbs up!

(I read a different edition of the book)

One of the main works in the Norwegian rural literary tradition
This is possibly Vesaas' main work, and at least among his 5 best tales. The book is about Per, the farm he is born on, and everything that comes from that. It is simply put the classic European tale of pre-modern rural life. The family is large; their lives revolve around the different seasons and not much decadence at all is to be found. You could call this an epic tale, since it spans Per's entire life; from childhood to old age. He has no desire to take over the farm from his father, but as the time passes by, he realizes that he too is part of the great cycle, hence the title. I can't recommend this enough; the only annoying part I can think of is the fact that I'm unsure if the follow-up novel has been translated to English. Although, don't let that be any reason to keep you away from this book, because if you want to read one of the North's greatest author at his best, then this is the place to start. Two thumbs up!

(I read a different edition of the book)
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Two of Vesaas' worst books in one tome
The first book revolves around an isolated island where a madman comes ashore. The small community is brought into frenzy when the madman kills one of their young girls, and in anger a crowd of the islanders kill the madman. The blame for the murder is laid upon one of the most active members of the crowd, a young boy that is the brother of the slain girl. He is forced to deal with the "blame" and the "guilt" by the rest of the community, and the humanist propaganda is just too much to bear. Yes, we get that Vesaas was trying to "warn" the world that no matter how much madmen and minorities annoy "mainstream society", we aren't allowed to retaliate against their actions. But this is utter nonsense, and one of the reasons we as Europeans have become utterly powerless and weak creatures, is because of this kind of philosophy. Not one of his good books, to put it shortly.

The second book revolves around two youths being home alone one weekend, and all that happens to them in a single spring night. The beginning is so much like many other Vesaas-novels, in the good way, but then it takes a turn for the worse. It starts out like many of his books in a tale about young love, and this is where Vesaas is at his best. Then suddenly for some reason he starts adding all these very annoying and surrealistic items and happenings, and they only make the story one of utter despair and unhappy lives.

I appreciate that he tried to be very "deep" and philosophical, but this just doesn't work at all. I've read all his 35 books, but I can safely advice you to skip this one, because it is simply bad or too politicised literature, and with the added horror of his occasional present humanist streak. Two thumbs down!

(I read a different edition of the book)
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Product Description
Hermosisima historia de amistad entre dos niñas, Siss y Unn, de once años, y de la dolorosa huella que la muerte de una de ellas, desaparecida en el interior de una montaña de hielo, deja en la otra. El palacio de hielo es una novela de amistad, de una amistad mas fuerte que el amor y la muerte, surgida de un encuentro breve en el que las protagonistas se juran recordarse siempre. El lirismo, la extraña sencillez y los recursos narrativos de Tarjei Vesaas, clasico indiscutible de las letras escandinavas del siglo XX, convierten la lectura de esta obra en una experiencia singular dificil de olvidar. ... Read more