Released in 2013; Guardian First Book Award Nominee (2013), Goodreads Choice Nominee for Historical Fiction (2013), Women’s Prize for Fiction Nominee (2014)
In Iceland, Agnes is to be executed with Sigga and Fridrik for the murders of Natan and Petur in 1829.
She is to be moved to a farm owned by the District comissionner Jon, his wife Magret and their daughters Steina and Lauga. They are not happy with this decision since the murders were brutal and are afraid for thier lives.
The Reverend Toti is asked to be her spiritual guidance until her execution. Little bit little she tells her story growing up abandonned by her mother and never really having a real home or a family and her meeting with Natan, her employer and the love if her life.
Did she really murder him? Was she the leader who planned the murder? There is always two sides to a story. Rumors and half-truths flow around people’s mouths, who is telling the thruh?
Steina is sure of her innoncence and the reverend is not sure of her being this cruel. The rest of the family especiall Lauga believes she is guilty but her telling her story might change some people’s mind.
Such a beautiful book. The atmosphere of this book is dark but written in such a way that you just want to continue to read. As I was reading this book, I wanted to root for Agnes and that her execution wouls be overturned. There is no happy ending in this book.
The research that was done for this book, the clothing, the climate, the way of living was superb. You can see in a time when rumours start and they don’t stop it damages one’s life and sometimes there is no redemption
This first time histprical novel from Hannah Kent is in my opinion a 5 well deserved stars.
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