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Eyes of the Rigel

A journey through love and loss in post-war Norway

Roy Jacobsen author Don Shaw translator Don Bartlett translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Quercus Publishing

Published:10th Jun '21

Should be back in stock very soon

Eyes of the Rigel cover

In Eyes of the Rigel, Ingrid Barroy searches for her child's father amidst the scars of post-war Norway, confronting love and truth along the way.

In Eyes of the Rigel, the concluding novel of a historical trilogy, we follow Ingrid Barroy as she embarks on a poignant journey across post-war Norway. Having endured the ravages of conflict, Ingrid leaves the island named after her to seek out the father of her child, Alexander, a Russian captive who survived the sinking of the prisoner ship, the Rigel. With her baby in arms, she retraces his steps, navigating a landscape scarred by occupation and loss.

As she travels, Ingrid encounters a diverse cast of characters, including collaborators, partisans, refugees, and those who have suffered under the weight of war. Each interaction reveals the complexities of human nature and the moral ambiguities faced by those living in a country still healing from its past. The narrative unfolds with a sense of urgency, as Ingrid grapples with her own understanding of love and truth in a world where both have been deeply affected by the conflict.

Ultimately, Eyes of the Rigel poses profound questions about identity and connection. As Ingrid seeks to find Alexander, she must confront her own perceptions and the realities of the man she believes she knows. This beautifully translated work by Don Bartlett and Don Shaw captures the essence of a nation in turmoil and the personal journey of a woman determined to uncover her past.

A fascinating study of the complex reality of postwar society . . . The novel shimmers with characteristically striking imagery . . . Jacobsen can make almost anything catch the light -- Johanne Elster Hanson * Times Literary Supplement *
The third part of a remarkable series of books . . . Don Bartlett and Don Shaw deserve much praise for their translation: their ingenious rendering of Ingrid's island dialect, which closely echoes the original Norwegian, is accompanied by the lyrical simplicity of Jacobsen's descriptions. -- Theodora Danek * Guardian. *
Taken together, Jacobsen has given us an epic of Norway's experience of the first half of the 20th century that is subtle and moving. -- David Mills * Sunday Times. *

ISBN: 9780857058898

Dimensions: 196mm x 126mm x 22mm

Weight: 197g

272 pages