Reading the World discussion

The Saga of Gösta Berling is the debut novel of Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf, published in 1891. It was made into a 1924 silent film directed by Mauritz Stiller starring Greta Garbo, Lars Hanson and Gerda Lundequist. A 1925 opera I cavalieri di Ekebù by Riccardo Zandonai was also based on it.

The hero, Gösta Berling, is a defrocked Lutheran priest who has been saved by the Mistress of Ekeby from freezing to death and thereupon becomes one of her pensioners in the manor at Ekeby. As the pensioners finally get power in their own hands, they manage the property as they themselves see fit and their lives are filled with many wild adventures. Gösta Berling is their leading spirit, the poet, the charming personality among a band of revelers. Before the story ends, Gösta Berling is redeemed, and even the old Mistress of Ekeby is permitted to come to her old home to die

I have put the book on hold at the library, but there is one other person ahead of me. I will comment when I finally get a chance to read the book.

Rosemarie, I am going to read the Albania book. Hope you enjoy this one.

Thanks. I've read two other books by this author. I enjoyed The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, but Jerusalem. I Dalarna not so much.

Since this is a 1001, I'm going to fit this one in at somepoint this month too.

TY Amanda. Despite the fact I have read many Sweden books, I will read this one too. Just bought it on Kindle and added it to my 1001-to-read shelf. 😘

nice!

Just Finished this one last week. Celia summarized the book well above. The defrocking that opens the book definitely includes booze, as does the many of the adventures the revelers of Mistress Ekeby get into (they are often referred to as the 'Cavaliers'). This aspect of the book was somewhat amusing, but admittedly I don't tend to get invested in what I call "historical f***boy" stories. Like where layabouts just do shallow things the whole time.

For me, what really enriched the book was how the author imbedded this ambiance of an older Swedish Epic with the almost supernatural imagery of the snow, the wolves, the scenery, and the night around the Ekeby estate. I gave it 3 stars.

I've read about a third of the book so far. It's been a fun read so far, with lots of action, some of it supernatural.

I'm over halfway and now know what you mean, Amanda. It's getting repetitive.

This one didn't work for me-2 stars.

I much preferred The Wonderful Adventures of Nils.