The Holy Land

Tetralogy

by Pär Lagerkvist, Naomi Walford (Translator)

A continuation of his allegorical sequence, which started in "The Sybil" with the introduction of the character Ahasuerus, but really took root in his next book, "The Death of Ahasuerus", the direct antecedent to "Pilgrim at Sea".

Genres: Fiction, Literature, Scandinavian Literature, Swedish Literature, Nobel Prize, Sweden, Classics

85 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Lagerkvist was born in 1891 in southern Sweden. In 1910 he went to Uppsala as a student and in 1913 he left for Paris, where he was exposed to the work of Pablo Picasso. He studied Middle Age Art, as well as Indian and Chinese literature, to prepare himself for becoming a poet. His first collection of poetry was published in 1916. In 1940 Lagerkvist was chosen as one of the "aderton" (the eighteen) of the Swedish Academy.

Lagerkvist wrote poetry, novels, plays, short stories and essays. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1951 "for the artistic vigour and true independence of mind with which he endeavours in his poetry to find answers to the eternal questions confronting mankind."

Reviews

[Aga]

I don’t even know how to rate this book. It is simple in its language but so deep in its meaning. I don’t have enough knowledge to understand it. It is a little gem...I am curious now, I would like to explore other works of Par Lagerkvist.

[Joel Thorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Att börja med sista boken i serien var kanske ingen bra ide men den skulle slängas pga vattenskada så var lika bra att läsa direkt. Första 3/4 var helt i min smak, extremt enkel men förundrande.

[William S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If one has gotten this far in the Pär Lagerkvist's pentalogy, one is sure to enjoy this book as well.

While just as apathetic to judgement and distinct conclusions as the rest of the pentalogy, this one gives us a bit more understanding of how to journey through the fog that Lagerkvist's books tend to be. The whole point is to journey, that the goal might not be reachable. Kafka once wrote, "The whole visible world is perhaps nothing more than than the rationalization of a man who wants to find peace for a moment. An attempt to falsify the actuality of knowledge, to regard knowledge as a goal still to be reached." This pentalogy extends this further than one could think. What does that peace mean? How can one attain it? What is the knowledge one attempts to falsify, what is to be still reached? And even more important than those questions, the most important word of that quote is "perhaps". Perhaps this is simply wrong and we are misinterpreting the entirety.

Lagerkvist's tales give us something to think about, a what if. Even if no absolute opinion is given by the author, at least he gives a path to walk on for a while, to perhaps find rest from other ideas.

[Peter Olofsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Spoilers*

A deserving end to the quintology that begins with 'Barabbas'.

Lagerkvists 'The Holy Land' is a novel about one man coming to terms with the disappointments of his life and the ability to make the best of a seemingly futile situation. After he resigns to the reality of his oncoming demise, it turns out that it his journey, not the goal that is central, and only with this realization our character, and the reader, reach the Holy Land and inner peace. This story is a journey, a man closing in on death in an almost hallucinatory dream like state of mind where we travel towards our own end. It is unclear if the novel takes place in an actual setting realistic or if it's just imagination.

In the same way this book is a comment from the author, a conclusion and summary of his own life, the quintology itself, and human life in general.

I'd also say that this book is an essential read in order to understand the quintology.

[Manfred Janker · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Det är det enda han äger och jag har ofta märkt att han är rädd för att mista den. Jag tror inte han kan leva utan den.”

Hänförd!

[John Hatley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the last of Lagerkvist's five-part series contrasting Christian beliefs with reality. His pilgrim Tobias continues on his journey to reach "The Holy Land".

[Andrea Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nel romanzo conclusivo della trilogia, Tobias e Giovanni sbarcano su una terra abitata da pastori. Successivamente si svolge una vicenda simbolica e allegorica che riguarda la nascita di un misterioso bambino.
Quando Tobias raggiunge la Terra Santa, vede le croci sul Golgota risaltare nel cielo grigio. Non sono una ma tre, e in esse riconosce il simbolo della sofferenza comune dell’uomo con Dio.
Tobias incontra la madre del figlio di Dio, l’eletta nella sofferenza che conosce anche il dolore del dubbio. Nell’ultima scena un incontro con una donna rivela la prima vicenda dolorosa che ha segnato Tobias, vicenda che finalmente trova il perdono e la pace.

[Mbuye · Rating 4 out of 5]

With ‘The Holy Land,’ the pentalogy comes to a close. If the previous four books in the series had some narrative element to them, this one is pure abstraction. Tobias and an old, blind Giovanni who can no longer pull his weight at sea are castaway by the crew of their ship on to a shore of an unknown land. The pilgrims, no pilgrims, have finally arrived at their destination. This is where their life’s journey has brought them. The local goatherds, who befriend them, have never heard of the Holy Land. In the years remaining to them, the two men see (or, in Giovanni’s case, are told of) the events and people who come and go. With each occurrence, a further repentance for past crimes heals both men. But the repentance is also one of understanding, reconciliation with oneself, and a kind of inner peace, not torment. Death comes quietly to Giovanni, who perhaps has loved more than he has sinned. Tobias goes a little further on his journey before both Mary the mother of God, herself a sufferer and healer, and Diana the Huntress appear together to absolve Tobias, who has not actually asked for absolution.

Pär Lagerkvist’s language, stark and spare, is what makes his books so outstanding. The human conundrum, the existential question of man’s relation to God is again at the forefront. Lagerkvist seems to be saying that man is responsible only to himself for his deeds and the whole idea of another man's sacrifice of himself becomes almost intolerable. In other words, the Holy Land is where you stand.

[Dave Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting story of a pilgrim who is seeking the Holy Land. Along the way, he comes to terms with mortality, morality, faith, and fate. The beauty of the tale is the author’s refusal to name specific characters. While one who is raised in the West, may connote the Christ Child, Holy Mother, Death, Shepards, and many other famous figures from the Bible, none are ever named. Neither are the religions, customs, or events. Simply laid out, the tale is almost like a parable or bed time story. The themes addressed, despite being tied to universal acclaim and a stunning allegory, are introduced to the reader gently. Almost like a lullaby for a weary soul.
The ending, of both the main characters life, and the story itself, make us realize just how human Christ was. How uneventful and arguably normal, his existence in society must have been. Which in turn makes one appreciate the miracle of his life and legacy. Beautiful and thought provoking, I sit wishing to reread this tale with a new lens of thought.

[Bob Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely conclusion to the three books I read. The visuals were subtle but powerful, the interactions meaningful but not verbose. Tight powerful little gem of a series. Here we find our "pilgrims" deposited on an unnamed, almost feral island. They befriend local farmers, are welcomed into their number and, following a series of allegorical events (birth of a child, mother's death, the death of the child, the woman coming down from the mountain), the men live out the rest of their lives on this island. The significance of the empty locket worn by Giovanni (the one formerly worn by his lover) seems to have allegorical weight but I can't quite place my finger on it. That he dies peacefully once it's removed makes me think it's more than just a locket. The fact that Tobias also dies when it is removed from him later in the novel cements this theory.

[Daze · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two marooned sailors, Tobias and Giovanni, are lost on an island after being marooned at sea but neither their past or future hopes are revealed.

An allegory of the search for a "holy land" which whether one is spiritual or not, the subject of the afterlife is always a topic of interest. What happens on our journey between life and death? Perhaps we see birth and death through our various stages from innocence to sinfulness. The metaphor of the snake, Mary, and the river of death made this feel quite cliche. Not much a plot as a forward motion into the Mountain of Death. I was not as invested being that the landscape and metaphor was all too familiar. Still, I did appreciate the ambiguity and lack of exposition in introducing the plot and main characters.

[Jefferson Fortner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This last book in the pentalogy devolves into allegory. The "pilgrims" aren’t in “The Holy Land,” but they are in Holy Land (and they aren't really pilgrims, but they are). They seek meaning, but they don’t. They find meaning, but they don’t. Greek religion is in ruins and forgotten. Christianity is on the heights and hardly know, but is important because of the two thieves as much as because of Christ, so it has to be three crosses. You can approach the other two on a human level, and that is important. You cannot approach the middle cross on a human level. This is not a story involving realism, and it is a weaker than the other four.

[Seth Tomko · Rating 3 out of 5]

It works as a surreal Scandinavian Christian Existentialist parable. The imagery is often quite good, even if it can seem disconnected or lacking context. I'm not sure a series of thematically similar, surreal scenes is enough to make a novel, but it's a much better read than many Lagerkvist's previous books in the series. It's not as strong as Barabbas or The Dwarf, but there is some worthwhile imagery and depth to this book.

[mwr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last non-poetic/dramatic work of Lagerkvist in translation available to me, and I regrettably (only because it's so atypical of his faire) started with the Dwarf. I have to say that after the swashbuckling pilgrim at sea, I'm surprised he was able to end this tetralogy, but this is one of of the better of his novellas.

[Sarja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bra bok, men inser nu i efterhand att det är en del av en serie, därtill den sista delen, och inte en fristående bok. Ack, dessa missar man kan göra!

Språket är fantastiskt i vanlig ordning med Lagerkvist och jag ser fram emot att läsa resten av denna serie.

[Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of three novels is an interesting read. Sometimes it is difficult to comprehend Lagerkvists ideas, perspectives of religion and life.
It is strange how he creates the parallel characters from the history specially biblical one. I prefer happily ever after stories, and I probably created my own endings of the stories where the characters live happily ever after.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novella is, much like the other works of Lagerkvist I have read, full of wonder. His simple use of language seems to convey so much more than could ever be expected. The Holy Land feels very much like a religious book without the problems of religion, it is quite lovely.

[Drew Johnson]

Guide book and History book on Israel as part of trip.

[Kristoffer Sørensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pär Lagerkvist was a genius. The greatest author i've ever read. This book is like the rest a great one!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not one of my favorite Lagerkvist, but a must for fans.

[Aina Hard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastisk, tiden står stilla

[Hannes Salin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swedish version.

[Pedro Sanoja · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story read as a teen that has remained with me my whole life.