Iceland's Bell

Rating:
Summary: Colonal critique
Review: Halldor Laxness is probably one of the most obscure Nobel Literature Prize winners a native reader of English can encounter. He lived into his nineties, and his writing spanned much of the 20th Century. Like many of Laxness's books, Iceland's Bell has not been available in English until very recently, and it is a shame that it has not.

Rather than summarizing the plot, I will simply note that Iceland's Bell dates from the period immediately following World War II, during which Iceland finally obtained her independence after centuries of rule by other Scandinavian countries (first Norway and then, after 1380, Denmark). Although Iceland's Bell is set in the 1600s, the tone of the stinging criticism of Iceland's colonial rulers uttered by several of the novel's characters is like the two-headed Byzantine eagle, looking forward and back at the same time. The general sentiment of the novel is that Iceland's people have been, under colonial rule, more like prisoners of the unforgiving land than true inheritors of that land, strangely haunted by their unique cultural heritage while not completely aware of its breadth and depth -- the ongoing search for written remnants of Icelandic saga and ballads and the transport and sale of those remnants away from Iceland and Icelanders is criticized, as is the Danish monopoly on Iceland's whale-oil trade and the periodic looting of priceless metallic artifacts (which are treated as mere raw material to fuel the Danish crown's incessant warfare). One gets the impression that Laxness is fighting a rearguard action against all colonialism in the way that he describes the capricious interference of the Danish crown into the indigenous affairs of Iceland's own executive and judicial systems, prompted by some misguided sense of "we must save those poor Icelanders from themselves" ("White Man's Burden" redux?).

I didn't know much about Iceland, in the "macro" sense, before reading Iceland's Bell. I probably still can't claim that I do, in spite of all the authentic touches employed in this translation (such as retaining the original Icelandic spelling of the names of most places on the island). But I have been left with the impression of a people who are quite like my own Irish kinsmen -- stubbornly proud of their heritage even as they recover from the effects of a predatory colonial regime. Not even adding six extra letters to the "normal" alphabet can make the characters I have read in "Iceland's Bell" seem like strangers to me.

Rating:
Summary: Colonal critique
Review: Halldor Laxness is probably one of the most obscure Nobel Literature Prize winners a native reader of English can encounter. He lived into his nineties, and his writing spanned much of the 20th Century. Like many of Laxness's books, Iceland's Bell has not been available in English until very recently, and it is a shame that it has not.

Rather than summarizing the plot, I will simply note that Iceland's Bell dates from the period immediately following World War II, during which Iceland finally obtained her independence after centuries of rule by other Scandinavian countries (first Norway and then, after 1380, Denmark). Although Iceland's Bell is set in the 1600s, the tone of the stinging criticism of Iceland's colonial rulers uttered by several of the novel's characters is like the two-headed Byzantine eagle, looking forward and back at the same time. The general sentiment of the novel is that Iceland's people have been, under colonial rule, more like prisoners of the unforgiving land than true inheritors of that land, strangely haunted by their unique cultural heritage while not completely aware of its breadth and depth -- the ongoing search for written remnants of Icelandic saga and ballads and the transport and sale of those remnants away from Iceland and Icelanders is criticized, as is the Danish monopoly on Iceland's whale-oil trade and the periodic looting of priceless metallic artifacts (which are treated as mere raw material to fuel the Danish crown's incessant warfare). One gets the impression that Laxness is fighting a rearguard action against all colonialism in the way that he describes the capricious interference of the Danish crown into the indigenous affairs of Iceland's own executive and judicial systems, prompted by some misguided sense of "we must save those poor Icelanders from themselves" ("White Man's Burden" redux?).

I didn't know much about Iceland, in the "macro" sense, before reading Iceland's Bell. I probably still can't claim that I do, in spite of all the authentic touches employed in this translation (such as retaining the original Icelandic spelling of the names of most places on the island). But I have been left with the impression of a people who are quite like my own Irish kinsmen -- stubbornly proud of their heritage even as they recover from the effects of a predatory colonial regime. Not even adding six extra letters to the "normal" alphabet can make the characters I have read in "Iceland's Bell" seem like strangers to me.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I meant for this review to be for Laxness' Independent People. I am not sure how to remove it now. I have not yet read Iceland's Bell, but the following review is actually for Independent People:

I am prejudiced to start with, I prefer books set in rural areas with "independent" characters. I also enjoy books that chronicle change and how it effects us. This book taught me a bit about Iceland. It also reminded me of areas in the US, like the Appalachians, for its history and harsh climate, particuarly for its relation to economics and agriculture in the region.

Rating:
Summary: Dare I say the "Steinbeck" of Iceland?
Review: I read Independent People a few years ago, after returning from a trip to Iceland and was intrigued. I enjoyed this novel more than Independent People, which I liked a lot. It's much faster moving and loaded with interesting characters that I really got into. After seeing the prosperity of modern-day Iceland, it's amazing to consider how poor off the country was, not even that long ago. The condition of the people is every bit as bleak as the landscape Laxness paints in Iceland's Bell. I won't try to summarize the story, as other reviewers have already done that.

The novel draws you in and keeps you there the entire time. I hated to have it end. What more do you want in a book? I see several more Laxness novels have been translated, so I think I'll order a couple more. Try reading one of the sagas, such as Njall's Saga before reading Iceland's Bell, you'll get a better appreciation for the importance of those early writings in Iceland's history and culture, and enjoy the book even more. If you enjoy Steinbeck, give Laxness a try. You'll be glad you did.

Rating:
Summary: Dare I say the "Steinbeck" of Iceland?
Review: I read Independent People a few years ago, after returning from a trip to Iceland and was intrigued. I enjoyed this novel more than Independent People, which I liked a lot. It's much faster moving and loaded with interesting characters that I really got into. After seeing the prosperity of modern-day Iceland, it's amazing to consider how poor off the country was, not even that long ago. The condition of the people is every bit as bleak as the landscape Laxness paints in Iceland's Bell. I won't try to summarize the story, as other reviewers have already done that.

The novel draws you in and keeps you there the entire time. I hated to have it end. What more do you want in a book? I see several more Laxness novels have been translated, so I think I'll order a couple more. Try reading one of the sagas, such as Njall's Saga before reading Iceland's Bell, you'll get a better appreciation for the importance of those early writings in Iceland's history and culture, and enjoy the book even more. If you enjoy Steinbeck, give Laxness a try. You'll be glad you did.

Rating:
Summary: "In the black land called Iceland."
Review: In a black bog on a black autumn night in the black land called Iceland.

I became interested in this book (and this author) after a trip I made to Iceland in January 2004.

ICELAND'S BELL takes place in late 17th century Iceland which certainly wasn't, by any means, a "good" time for this island nation. Laxness's descriptions of his homeland paint a very bleak and cruel backdrop for his story. The people of Iceland are starving while the government is composed of corrupt and greedy Danes. Politics plays a big part in this novel and those politics can be very complex.

The story of ICELAND'S BELL centers on Arni Arnaeus (based on a real character), a man whose passion is the collection and preservation of medieval Icelandic manuscripts, most of which have something to do with Iceland's famous sagas. Something that's amazing are the places in which Arni finds the manuscripts, e.g., between wall slats to keep the snow out and what heat can be generated, in.

ICELAND'S BELL is also the story of Jon Hreggvidsson, a man who may have committed a murder "in a black bog on a black autumn night." Jon is a totally different kind of man than is Arni, yet their lives intersect and intertwine and both men are deeply affected by Snaefridur, a woman so beautiful she's known as "Iceland's Sun."

ICELAND'S BELL is certainly a marvelous novel, but it's definitely not for those readers who like their literature on the "light" side or who only choose books on the bestseller list. This novel is bleak, tragic and quite erudite. There are many references to the Icelandic sagas and the characters often use Latin, Danish and German words and phrases. There are many explanatory notes, but I think readers will enjoy the book more if they don't have to refer to them so often.

The prose in ICELAND'S BELL is darkly poetic, richly magnificent and very elegant (Laxness is a Nobel Prize winner) and it flows beautifully. The characters are also beautifully drawn and fully fleshed out.

I really can't recommend ICELAND'S BELL highly enough, but only to those readers who like very, very literary fiction. Also, don't expect to see a portrait of modern day Iceland. ICELAND'S BELL paints a very different picture of Iceland than the thriving, growing country we recognize today.

Rating:
Summary: "Copenhagen, the city the Danes got from the Icelanders"
Review: In true fashion to the skill of Halldor Laxness, ICELAND'S BELL paints a grim and desolate portrait of Iceland at the end of the 17th century. Iceland is a Danish colony and suffers from famine and a small pox epidemic that leaves this small island nation barely standing. What's more, Denmark has continuously benefited financially from a trade monopoly that prohibits Icelanders from trading with any other nations, especially the Dutch. Iceland's situation is not the only story of turmoil in Scandinavia; Denmark and Sweden are constantly at war. In the midst of all these socio-political issues three principle characters struggle with their individual livelihoods in ICELAND'S BELLS. Jon Hreggvidsson is a petty theft who is sentenced to be beheaded for ridiculing the Danish King in public. Laxness's portrayal of the plight of Jon Hreggvidsson is colorful and full of wit and dark humor. He is certainly a character that is difficult to hate even though he commits violent acts and has no regard for his family back home. Another principle character is Snaefridur who is often regarded as the most beautiful woman in Iceland. She is married to a drunk who manages to get himself in many funny situations such as selling his wife for a drink of liquor. The lives of Hreggvidsson and Snaefridur intertwine several times throughout the course of the novel in truly unique manners. The third principle character is Arnas Arnaeus who is determined to save and preserve all the old manuscripts of Icelandic history and literature but despite his good intentions Arenaeus's life is never as noble as he had wished. He is determined to be an advocate to the Icelandic people, but in the end he is an unlikely hero for Iceland.

With the constant references to Icelandic sagas throughout the novel one wonders if Laxness intended to write a saga of his own. He frequently used Latin phrases, and I was thankful that there was an index in the back which described in detail the meanings. One of this novel's biggest strengths besides the bold and authentic characterizations is that many of the characters and events were based on history. It is apparent that Laxness is well acquainted with the history and culture of Iceland. If you enjoyed INDEPENDENT PEOPLE, then read ICELAND'S BELL. Laxness created a dark portrait of Iceland that is bound to make the reader feel sorry for the inhabitants of this poor nation. Certainly they received the short end of the stick. Life in Iceland was difficult at the end of the 17th century, and Laxness succeeds in telling a saga that is both dark and comedic. Warning - don't read the introduction first as many essential plot developments are revealed. Recommended.