Else

by Alexander L. Kielland

Else, (full tittel Else - en Julefortælling) er en roman skrevet av Alexander Kielland. Else er alt annet enn en typisk julefortelling. Hovedpersonen er den foreldreløse Else, også kalt «Loppen», som har fått husly på loftet hos kvakksalversken madam Späckbom. Madammen har også helbredet henne for en øyensykdom der dr Bentzen måtte gi tapt, noe som ikke gjør ham mildere stemt hverken mot Späckbom eller pasienten. Kielland presenterer også bakgrunnshistorien om hvordan Else antastes og deretter vrakes av teglverkseieren konsul With, og forfatteren tilføyer at konsulen hadde gjort det Kierkegaard ville at Luther skulle gjort – giftet seg med et strykebrett. «Thi Fru With var visselig noget af det fladeste, man kunde se for sine Øine.» På selve julaften er Else med på et tyveri av julemat, men avkreftet som hun er av sult og kulde, dør hun samme natt. «Foreningen for faldne Kvinder i St. Petri menighet» avsløres av Kielland i alt sitt hykleri og bruk av veldedighet som personlig pynt, mens de i virkeligheten unnlot å hjelpe Else da de kunne - fordi hun ennå ikke var noen «falden» kvinne.

Genres: Fiction

65 pages, Kindle Edition

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.