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The Unseen

SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2017
By Roy Jacobsen
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Check link for latest rating. ( 11,151 ratings, 1,173 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen is an evocative tale set on a small, isolated Norwegian island. It follows the lives of the Barrøy family, focusing on their daily struggles, deep connections to the land, and their aspirations against the backdrop of a harsh and unforgiving landscape. The narrative beautifully captures the timeless rhythms of life, nature, and the relentless pursuit of survival and progress.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy richly detailed narratives exploring human resilience and isolation, then this book may capture your interest. Set against the stark beauty of a Norwegian island, the story delves into the struggles and bonds of a family living on the fringes of society, highlighting themes of survival and connection.

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A group of children inherit an elemental paradise on earth in Roy Jacobsen's phenomenally bestselling new novel about love, poverty and tragedy in early twentieth century Norway

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
Shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize 2017! Nobody can leave an island. An island is a cosmos in a nutshell, where the stars slumber in the grass beneath the snow. But occasionally someone tries . . . Ingrid Barroy is born on an island that bears her name - a holdfast for a single family, their livestock, their crops, their hopes and dreams. Her father dreams of building a quay that will connect them to the mainland, but closer ties to the wider world come at a price. Her mother has her own dreams - more children, a smaller island, a different life - and there is one question Ingrid must never ask her. Island life is hard, a living scratched from the dirt or trawled from the sea, so when Ingrid comes of age, she is sent to the mainland to work for one of the wealthy families on the coast. But Norway too is waking up to a wider world, a modern world that is capricious and can be cruel. Tragedy strikes, and Ingrid must fight to protect the home she thought she had left behind. Translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett and Don Shaw.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Unseen by Roy Jacobsen is widely praised for its brilliance and subtlety, with some reviewers considering it his finest work. It is described as a modern masterpiece and a significant addition to Norwegian literature, with critics highlighting its ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781848666108

Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 May 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: MacLehose Press

Contributors:

  • Translated by Don Bartlett
  • Translated by Don Shaw
  • Translated by Don Bartlett

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 191g

Pages: 272

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About the Author

Roy Jacobsen has twice been nominated for the Nordic Council's Literary Award: for Seierherrene in 1991, and Frost in 2003, and in 2009 he was shortlisted for the Dublin Impac Award for his novel The Burnt-Out Town of Miracles.

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