Else: Eine Weihnachtserzählung

by Alexander L. Kielland

Der Weihnachtsklassiker aus Norwegen

Die Geschichte des Waisenmädchens Else, dessen Schicksal an einem Weihnachtsabend sein trauriges Ende findet, kennt in Norwegen jedes Kind. Die anrührende Schilderung Elses und ihrer skurrilen Weggefährten ist ein Kabinettstück realistischen Erzählens und trug dem Autor zu Recht den Ruf eines skandinavischen Charles Dickens ein. Mit Ibsen, Bjørnson und Lie zählt er zu den «vier Großen» der norwegischen Literatur des 19. Jahrhunderts.

Genres: Fiction

104 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1881

About the author

Of the most famous realistic writer of the 19th century, Alexander Lange Kielland ranks as one of the "four greats" of Norwegian literature alongside Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, and Jonas Lie.

Born wealthy, he as a factory owner with a sincere affection for the less fortunate treated his workers well. He, a critic of society throughout his time as a writer, spoke for the weak. His best known plays were the satirical comedies Tre Par (1886) and Professoren (1888). He was also well known for his short stories.

Among his most famous works are the novels Gift (1883), Skipper Worse (1882) and Garman & Worse (1880). Gift (published in English as Poison ) is the first of a trilogy including Fortuna (1884) and St. Hans Fest (1887). In this trilogy, Kielland satirizes the hypocrisy of Norway's clergy. In Gift, Kielland debates the preference for Latin that Norwegian teachers had during his time. [wikipedia]

Reviews

[Andreas Solheim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kos, men ikkje hans beste verk

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a sweetly sentimental look at the joys of Christmas through the eyes of a child, this is not that book, no matter what the description on Amazon says. Nor is it appropriate for young children.

It is, however, a good book that deals with hard topics and how those who think of themselves as good people (sometimes me, maybe you) have a way of sweeping other people's problems under the rug and ignoring them, always with a good excuse, of course. Might make an interesting book club read or something to read together with your older teenagers (after reading yourself to see if they're ready for it) and discuss.

[Emilie Wold · Rating 3 out of 5]

En rørende idé pakket inn i en altfor travel fortelling.