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This digital document is an article from Scandinavian Studies, published by Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study on June 22, 2001. The length of the article is 8964 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Tarjei Vesaas and German Expressionist Theater.(Norwegian writer Tarjei Vesaas)
Author: Frode Hermundsgard
Publication: Scandinavian Studies (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2001
Publisher: Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study
Volume: 73Issue: 2Page: 125

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Customer Reviews (1)

One of the meaningless Vesaas-tales
The book is about a family that is forced to move around because the mother in the family becomes convinced she is going to die soon. The family and the farm they live on is nicely portrayed in the beginning of the book, and like so many other Vesaas-tales it starts out just great, and then it suddenly goes downhill from there. The mother becomes some kind of deranged person, and she forces all of them out on the road, because she wants to "see" something we never quite learn what is, before she fades away. I won't reveal too much of the tale, nor do I think it is possible, since basically nothing happens.

This book is not one of Vesaas mighty tales, and I felt it went on forever before it ended. I've read all his 35 books, and this is definitively not one you'll want to familiarize yourself with. Two thumbs down!

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

Vesaas at his best, although some of the tales are unnecessary
This book ranges from his greatest work, to his more mediocre tales. In my opinion, Vesaas was at his best when he wrote short stories, so being his final book, we could almost expect him to end his career with his characteristic magnificent writing. And occasionally, he really comes through in this book! Some of the tales in this book is among the greatest writing I've had the pleasure of reading, like the tale about the father and the son out in the forest making way for the timber in the snow, late at night. This tale is simply so great I have no words, it represents Vesaas at his very best, and is possibly the embodiment of adolescent Germanic inner thought. Another tale that stands out is the story about the young girl waiting in the falling snow for her love to come greet her, such a sad and beautiful tale. So totally at odds against today's decadent literature and society, with our completely sexualized society and other forms of decadence.

I can't recommend this book enough, as it really shows Vesaas at his best (and that says a lot), the only reason I don't give it the full score being that quite a few of the tales in the book are simply not good at all. But all in all, just great!

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

Customer Reviews (1)

A tale of both love and insanity, with most of the latter
This Vesaas book revolves around an auto-shop yard, and the family that runs it. I won't reveal much of the story, since it's somewhat bad and very little happens. The father and the son eventually have a falling out with the mother of the family, over the blame of the death of their youngest family member. It drives everyone to the brink of insanity, and possibly over it for some of the family members. I found the book to be nothing but depressing and depraved, and the only bright spots are the unconditional love the girl next-door has for our young main character. It's not really a bad book, just very depressing and somewhat slow in it's pace.

All in all, another one of the books by Vesaas you can safely avoid, especially considering the number of great books this splendid author wrote.

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