The Blue Tower

by Þórarinn Eldjárn, Bernard Scudder (Translator)

In 1649, Guðmundur Andrésson is sitting apparently forgotten in Copenhagen's notorious Blue Tower, where he has been imprisoned for writing a pamphlet attacking the Great Edict, the morality law set by the Danish colonial authorities in Iceland. Interspersed with descriptions of his suffering and despair in the cell, he narrates the story of an extraordinary life. A bright but poor farmer's son, he was sponsored by a kindly scholar, but prefers a life with connections and a rich wife. The birth of a child out of wedlock, counter to the Great Edict, and his scurrilous tract seal his fate.

Genres: Historical Fiction

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Þórarinn studied literature and philosophy at the University of Lund in Sweden between 1969 and 1972, Icelandic at the University of Iceland 1972-1973, and completed a phil.cand. degree in literature at the University of Lund in 1975. Þórarinn lived in Stockholm from 1975 to 1979 and spent a year in Canterbury in 1988-1989.
Since 1975 Þórarinn has worked as a writer and translator. He has published a number of poetry collections, short-story collections and novels as well a translating fiction for adults and children from English and the Scandinavian languages. Among them are novels by Göran Tunström, and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Together with his sister, the artist Sigrún Eldjárn, Þórarinn has published a number of poetry books for children, and many of them have received various awards. Þórarinn's fiction has been translated to other languages, his novel Brotahöfuð (The Blue Tower) has appeared in several languages, including English and French and was nominated to the IMPAC Dublin award in 2001.

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ihanasti ja inhimillisesti kerrottu. Pisteet myös kääntäjälle erittäin sujuvasta suomennoksesta. Toisen aikakauden kuvausten lukeminen kannattaa aina.

[Patrick Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I first read it 18 years ago. I just reread it and now appreciate its beauty and value even more.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written, and with a seemingly authentic historical and cultural setting. Iceland in the 17th century was pretty well at its nadir. As if surviving at all in this harshest of natural environments wasn't hard enough, the autocratic and repressive rule of the Danish colonists made life even tougher. The social and political situation is very similar to that in Sjon's The Mouth of the Whale.
The Reformation caused as much upheaval here as it did in other parts of Europe, thanks in big part to the Danes' imposition of The Great Edict which enforced a puritanical and rigidly conformist regime on the unfortunate Icelanders.
Like religious fundamentalism everywhere, it led to persecution and injustice, as the main character, Gudmunder, finds to his cost. An intelligent lad from a poor background, who by the grace of a kindly patron secures an education, he is at once rash and naive, not always acting in his own best interest, and falling prey to the malevolence of powerful enemies. He was as afflicted as Job, but his constant complaint and self pity, though understandable, became a little wearing after a while.
I hovered between 3 and 4 stars here, but erred on the side of generosity, because it is unfair and unrealistic to expect that every writer can be like Halldor Laxness! (I am currently re-reading that absolute masterpiece, Iceland's Bell)

[Michael Krarup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spændende beretning om den islandske Gudmundur Andréssons liv i Island i første halvdel af 1600-tallet, og om hvordan han pga. sine meninger og ikke mindst hans måde at sige og skrive dem på havner i som fange i Blåtårn på Københavns Slot.
Meget interessant og velskrevet tidsbillede af Island på den tid, og de magtkampe og intriger som Gudmundur bliver fanget i - ikke mindst pga sin egen store kæft!

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linkki blogiarvioon

[Eric Hinkle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfectly fine book, but didn't excite me too much.