Iceland's Bell

The Iceland bell ( isl.Íslandsklukkan, written 1943-1946 ) is the most famous novel by the Icelandic writer Halldór Laxness ( 1902-1998 ). The German -language edition is from the year 1951.

Content

The act extends over more than two decades and plays in under Danish rule Iceland in the late 17th and early 18th centuries; the temporal compression in reality lying further apart events of local history makes a precise dating impossible. Some shorter episodes also play in the Netherlands, Germany and especially Denmark. The social and political situation, Iceland plays a major role; be shown the impoverished peasants, the proud, but also quite easy living upper class and the rich Danish profiteers, but also the pride of the country and its ancient traditions Icelanders at all layers.

Very closely linked, almost too narrow to be considered as different storylines, there are two stories in the center. There is the one section at a happy love story between the beautiful, confident and make blond judges daughter Snæfriður and the scholar Arnas Arnaeus looking on the land of precious old manuscripts, which are exposed partially diverted and destruction, for him the most important legacy of the glory days of now degraded land. He later tried as a royal commissioner in vain to improve the situation on the island; his ideals of justice strike the stubbornness of proud of their traditional social order Icelanders and the opposition of the Danish merchants. Again and again Arnaeus decides against Snæfriður and for other projects, which, he believes, are more important for the country.

The second plot line represents the washed with all waters farmer Jón at the center. He is accused of murder, is an execution can just escape and even then wanders for years through Europe. On his return to Iceland, the process is rolled repeatedly. Snæfriðurs father for the first time has him convicted of vague clues, the girl even allows him to escape, her father can return home safely to the farm him then; Arnaeus causes in the name of justice, the first ending in a harsh judgment against Snæfriðurs father resumption of the process, Snæfriður the second to restore through sentencing Jons and Arnaeus ' her father's honor.

At the end of the novel Arnaeus rejects the offer of a Hamburg merchant to buy Iceland, and to make him a duke, from so that is also the last chance of a future with Snæfriður adjusted. A fire destroyed Copenhagen Arnaeus ' library except for a few works, his resignation prevented the rescue. Snæfriður marries her before repeatedly rejected by humiliating her " eternal suitor " the learned, at times fanatical ascetic and Catholicism inclined toward new Bishop of Skálholt. Jon, now very aged, will eventually acquitted.

The novel consists of three books or parts: Íslandsklukkan (Eng. The bell Islands, 1943), HID ljósa you (Eng. The clear Maid, 1944), Eldur í Kaupinhafn (German fire in Copenhagen, 1946).

Interpretative classification and background

Referenced to the farmer Jón plotline, which is, however, closely linked to the first by Arnas Árnaeus, constantly reminded of famous picaresque novels such as Grimmelshausen " The Adventurous Simplicissimus Teutsch ".

Many important people and events are based on real facts that resulted from the intensive study of the sources of the author. In fact, occurred have about the trial of Jón Hreggvidson and the fire of Copenhagen. The figure of Arnas Arnaeus is the historical figure of the Árni Magnússon (1663-1730, Latin: Arnas Magnaeus ) ajar, actually bought up at the beginning of the 18th century in Iceland was traveling and ancient writings. In this way, precious manuscripts were, inter alia, rescued by Sagas from decay and disappearance. The texts were first kept in Copenhagen, but returned in the 70s of the 20th century Iceland.