Else

by Alexander L. Kielland

I 1800-tallets Stavanger vokser den unge forældreløse Else op under trange kår i et hus fyldt med afdankede musikere og fordrukne småforbrydere. I den anden ende af byen opretter det bedre borgerskab "Foreningen for faldne Kvinder" i en kirkelig menighed for at vise, at de tager socialt ansvar. Fornemme fruer kappes om bestyrelsesposterne og enstemmigt vælger de byens konsul til formand uden at skele til, at selvsamme konsul i årenes løb har sørget for at forsyne Stavanger med en stor del faldne kvinder. "Else" er en samfundskritisk roman, der fremstiller håbløsheden og udnyttelsen af proletariatet mens grådighed, dobbeltmoral og hykleri præger det bedre borgerskab, hvor privat velgørenhed bliver en sovepude for dårlig social samvittighed. Alexander Kielland (1849-1906) er en af de mest kendte norske forfattere fra 1800-tallet. Hans mange romaner og noveller er skrevet i en realistisk og samfundskritisk stil og nyder stor anerkendelse også uden for Norges grænser. Han debuterede med "Novelletter" i 1879 men er bedst kendt for slægtsromanen "Garman & Worse" fra 1880.

Genres: Fiction

72 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.