Independent People
Halldór Laxness · 1902–1998 · Iceland
Originally Sjálfstætt fólk (Icelandic)
Why it matters
A stubborn Icelandic sheep farmer sacrifices everyone he loves to his dream of owing nothing to anyone. Laxness's saga-inflected tragicomedy of pride and poverty on the volcanic edge of Europe.
At a glance
family sagatragedy
Difficulty 6/10medium pace480 pagesDeadpan irony beneath punishing rural hardship, sustained across an epic span.
Deep dive
A saga hero's stubborn self-sufficiency, played completely straight by the man living it and diagnosed as a disease by everyone standing near him.
Where to go next
Halldór Laxness · 1957The Fish Can SingLvl 4Medium pace
Selma Lagerlöf · 1891Gösta Berling's SagaLvl 6Medium pace
Sigrid Undset · 1920Kristin LavransdatterLvl 6Slow burn
Frans Eemil Sillanpää · 1931The Maid SiljaLvl 4Medium pace
Knut Hamsun · 1890HungerLvl 5Medium pace
Elsa Morante · 1974History: A NovelLvl 5Medium pace