A review by ronanmcd
The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen
5.0
Maybe it stems from the fact of translation, but there is something about the economical sparsity, functionality and precision of the words in this text. I imagine it must be a wider Scandinavian thing, a mindset, or a cultural fascination. Only the necessary makes it into the text. I saw this trend recently with the Icelandic Independent People, Norwegian Hunger and Danish We, The Drowned. There is a deliberateness to each that means every sentiment, every glimpse of description and each little thing that goes unspoken has such resonance.
Of these recent Scandinavian translations this has particularly struck a chord. It's not a story so much as time spent in other lives. You aren't just reading about an island near the Arctic Circle a century ago. You are there, and toiling.
Of these recent Scandinavian translations this has particularly struck a chord. It's not a story so much as time spent in other lives. You aren't just reading about an island near the Arctic Circle a century ago. You are there, and toiling.