The Colony of Good Hope

A historical novel by Kim Leine, 1728: The Danish King Fredrik IV sends a governor to Greenland to establish a colony, but the converts are few. The missionary priest Hans Egede has already been in Greenland for several years, and the newly arrived couples quickly sink into a life of dissolution. Through the starvation and epidemics, Egede remains steadfast in his determination to sacrifice even those he loves for the sake of his mission.

Format: Hardback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

1728: The Danish King Fredrik IV sends a governor to Greenland to establish a colony,in the hopes of exploiting the countrys allegedly vast natural resources. A few merchants,a barber-surgeon,two trainee priests,a blacksmith,some carpenters and soldiers and a dozen hastily married couples go with him. The missionary priest Hans Egede has already been in Greenland for several years when the new colonists arrive. He has established a mission there,but the converts are few. Among those most hostile to Egede is the shaman Aappaluttoq,whose own son was taken by the priest and raised in the Christian faith as his own. Thus the great rift between two men,and two ways of life,is born. The newly arrived couples – men and women plucked from prison – quickly sink into a life of almost complete dissolution,and soon unsanitary conditions,illness and death bring the colony to its knees. Through the starvation and the epidemics that beset the colony,Egede remains steadfast in his determination – willing to sacrifice even those he loves for the sake of his mission.
In the captivating tradition of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, an immensely powerful historical novel that delves into the initial encounters between Danish colonists and Greenlanders in the early eighteenth century, this text explores the tumultuous and violent clashes between priests and pagans, as well as the forces that propel individuals towards darkness or light.

Setting the stage in 1728, the Danish King Fredrik IV dispatched a governor to Greenland with the ambitious goal of exploiting the country's purported abundant natural resources. Accompanying this expedition were a handful of merchants, a barber-surgeon, two trainee priests, a blacksmith, a few carpenters, soldiers, and a dozen hastily married couples. Among the newcomers was the missionary priest Hans Egede, who had already spent several years in Greenland. He had established a mission there, but the number of converts remained limited. One of the most vocal opponents of Egede was the shaman Aappaluttoq, whose own son had been taken by the priest and raised in the Christian faith as his own. This profound rift between two men and two ways of life laid the foundation for the unfolding events.

As the new colonists settled in Greenland, they quickly descended into a life of almost complete dissolution. Unsanitary conditions, illness, and death soon took their toll, bringing the colony to its knees. Despite the hardships, Egede remained steadfast in his determination, unwavering in his commitment to his mission. He was willing to sacrifice even those he loved for the sake of spreading the Christian faith in this distant land.

Kim Leine's The Colony of Good Hope is a captivating exploration of what transpires when two cultures collide. Set in a distant colony, under the harshest conditions, this novel vividly depicts the overwhelming forces of nature meeting the vices of man. Through the struggles and hardships faced by the colonists, Leine sheds light on the complexities of cultural exchange and the challenges of establishing a new society in a foreign land.

The Colony of Good Hope is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of faith in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding and respecting different cultures, even when they seem vastly different from our own. This novel offers a thought-provoking perspective on the complexities of colonialism and the enduring impact it has on both the colonizers and the colonized.

Weight: 832g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 52 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529014334