Burial Rites
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4.3 • 793 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
The multi-award winning debut bestseller from the author of The Good People, with new novel Devotion out now.
In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnusdottir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men.
Agnes is sent to wait on the farm of District Officer Jon Jonsson and his family, who are horrified and avoid Agnes. Only Toti, the young assistant reverend appointed as Agnes's spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the summer months fall away to winter, Agnes's story begins to emerge. And as the days to her execution draw closer, the question burns: did she or didn't she?
Based on a true story, Burial Rites is a deeply moving novel about freedom and the ways we will risk everything for love. In beautiful, cut-glass prose, Hannah Kent portrays Iceland's formidable landscape, and asks: how can one woman endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others?
WINNER FOR INDIE AWARDS 2014
WINNER FOR VICTORIAN PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARD PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD 2014
WINNER FOR FAW CHRISTINA STEAD AWARD 2014
WINNER ABA NIELSEN BOOKDATA BOOKSELLERS' CHOICE AWARD 2014
WINNER FOR ABIA LITERARY FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014
WINNER FOR SMH BEST YOUNG AUSTRALIAN NOVELIST 2014
WINNER FOR ABIA/BOOKTOPIA PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD 2014
WINNER FOR DAVITT AWARDS DEBUT FICTION 2014
WINNER FOR DAVITT AWARDS READER'S CHOICE 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD 2013
SHORTLISTED FOR NIB WAVERLEY AWARD FOR LITERATURE 2013
SHORTLISTED FOR THE STELLA PRIZE 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR BAILEYS WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR VICTORIAN PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARD FOR FICTION 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR ALS GOLD MEDAL 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR VOSS LITERARY AWARD 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2014
Praise for Burial Rites
'A story of swirling sagas, poetry ... Holds an exhilaration that borders on the sublime' Sunday Telegraph
'a wonderfully strange and haunting story' The Times
'a debut of rare sophistication and beauty' Observer
'beautiful and compelling' The Guardian
'A gripping tale.' New York Times
'The most talked about Australian debut novel in years.' Australian
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
This stunning debut from Adelaide-born Hannah Kent fictionalises the real-life story of the last person to be executed in Iceland. Its prose transports you to the stark, brutal life of the island nation’s rural communities in 1829—a place where human existence itself can be tenuous and fraught emotions underlie the relationships of the seemingly phlegmatic Icelanders. We highly recommend this unforgettable novel.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Kent's debut delves deep into Scandinavian history, not to mention matters of storytelling, guilt, and silence. Based on the true story of Agnes Magn sd ttir, the novel is set in rural Iceland in 1829. Agnes is awaiting execution for the murder of her former employer and his friend, not in a prison there are none in the area but at a local family's farm. J n J nsson, the father, grudgingly accepts this thankless task as part of his responsibility as a regional official, but his wife and daughters' reactions range from silent resentment to outright fear. After settling in to the household, Agnes requests the company of a young priest, to whom she confesses parts of her story, while narrating the full tale only to the reader, who, like the priest, "provide her with a final audience to her life's lonely narrative." The multilayered story paints sympathetic and complex portraits of Agnes, the J nssons, and the young priest, whose motives for helping the convict are complicated. Kent smoothly incorporates her impressive research for example, she opens many of the chapters with documents that come directly from archival sources while giving life to these historical figures and suspense to their tales.
Customer Reviews
An enjoyable read
A book that is difficult to put down & an excellent read.
Burial Rites
Such a touching, sad story. Well written, especially for a first time author. The cultural insights into this fascinating place are a real eye opener. The characters are well rounded and believable, especially when you can see their attitude to Agnes thawing. I should have read it in summer though!
Burial Rites
Excellent!! An emotional, tragic story that was beautifully told.