The Journey HomeIn this beautifully crafted novel, Icelandic writer Olaf Olafsson tells the moving story of a woman who, in the remaining months of her life, undertakes an extraordinary emotional journey. For years, Disa has lived a quiet life, managing an English country-house hotel with her close companion, Anthony. Having learned she is terminally ill, Disa decides it is time to travel back to the village in Iceland where she was born. With enormous sensitivity, Olafsson carries the reader with Disa on her quietly heroic journey. As she goes north, events she has spent most of her life trying to forget are slowly revealed. Turned away by her mother, her young fiancé murdered by the Nazis, Disa was left to find refuge as a cook in a wealthy household that contained within it the seeds of both sexual and political violence. The consequences have marked her forever; only now can she attempt to find a resolution. A rich and moving portrait of a woman by an exceptionally gifted writer. |
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Akureyri Anthony Asdis asked Atli autumn bedside table began beside blue Bolli Boulestin breeze chair Christmas Christmas lights cigarillos coffee conservatory Copenhagen David dear Disa Ditton Hall door driver Egil's Saga Elizabeth David Esja étui eyes face Father feel fetch Fjolugata girl glass going gone guests Gullfoss hand hear heard Helmsdale Holbeck Iceland Jakob Joka Jorunn journey Kari kitchen knew Kopasker laugh letter light Liphook listening little Marilyn looked Maria mind mistress morning Mother never night Nora Gannon noticed o'clock omelette once opened perhaps rain remember Reykjavik seemed Shirley Jones silence sleep smil smile snow snow buntings Somerset sometimes stay stood stopped suddenly sure talk tell there's things thought told took tried trip turned voice waiting Wakefield walk watch whispered window