Pan

First published in 1894, “Pan” is one of Norwegian author and Nobel prize-winning Knut Hamsun’s most famous works. It is the story of Lieutenant Thomas Glahn, an ex-military man who lives alone in a hut in the woods with his faithful dog Aesop. Glahn’s life changes when he meets Edvarda, a merchant’s daughter from a nearby town, with whom he quickly falls in love. While they feel strongly for each other, they do not truly understand the other’s perspective and tragedy soon befalls the lovers. Edvarda is not entirely faithful to Glahn and he is profoundly affected by her betrayal and the strange habits of the city people he does not feel connected to. Deeply symbolic and emotionally sensitive, “Pan” is a fascinating study in the psychological impact of unrequited love and helped cement Hamsun’s reputation as a gifted author. Cited as one of the reasons for awarding him the Nobel Prize in Literature, “Pan” was a critical success and often lauded for its powerful and poetic prose. Hamsun’s story endures as a powerful and moving story of one man’s tragic experiences with love and his ultimate rejection of society in favor of the beauty of the natural world. This edition includes a biographical afterword and follows the translation of W. W. Worster.