Aliss at the Fire - WINNER OF THE 2023 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE

In her old house by the fjord, Signe sees a vision of herself as she was more than twenty years earlier, waiting for her husband Asle on that terrible late November day when he took his rowboat out onto the water and never returned. Jon Fosse's vivid, hallucinatory prose explores love and loss, ranking among the greatest meditations on marriage and human fate.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 27 October 2023
Publisher: Fitzcarraldo Editions

In her old house by the fjord, Signe lies on a bench and sees a vision of herself as she was more than twenty years earlier: standing by the window waiting for her husband Asle, on that terrible late November day when he took his rowboat out onto the water and never returned. Her memories widen out to include their whole life together, and beyond: the bonds of family and the battles with implacable nature stretching back over five generations, to Asle's great-great-grandmother Aliss. In Jon Fosse's vivid, hallucinatory prose, all these moments in time inhabit the same space, and the ghosts of the past collide with those who still live on.

Aliss at the Fire is a visionary masterpiece, a haunting exploration of love and loss that ranks among the greatest meditations on marriage and human fate. Signe's memories of her husband Asle, who took his rowboat out onto the water and never returned, are vivid and expansive. They encompass their entire life together, as well as the bonds of family and the battles with the unforgiving nature that have spanned five generations. The novel also delves into the legacy of Asle's great-great-grandmother Aliss, who played a significant role in shaping the family's history.

In Jon Fosse's vivid prose, the past and present coexist in the same space, and the ghosts of the past intertwine with the lives of the living. The novel is a haunting exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of family bonds. It is a testament to the human capacity for resilience and the enduring impact of our ancestors on our lives. Aliss at the Fire is a masterpiece that will leave readers deeply moved and contemplative.

Weight: 66g
Dimension: 113 x 197 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804271025