Featured Book of the Month

About the Book:

The ax and earth shall guard them best.“ A statement that in 1550 sealed the fate of the Icelandic Bishop of Hólar, Jón Arason, and his two sons, Ari and Björn – and the future of the Icelandic nation following the Reformation. This is a historical novel of faith and doubt, of power and oppression, peopled with characters who step forward larger than life from the mists of the past. With human qualities that make their tragedy only tangible in our own principle-testing times. Translated by Philip Roughton

The Review:

Legacy Author Ólafur Gunnarsson - The Ax and the Earth

Translated by: Philip Roughton

Release Date: February 9, 2016

Publisher: Forlagið

Genre: #Fiction #Historical #Political #Drama #Norse #Icelandic

5 Stars

Ólafur Gunnarsson writes a historical masterpiece 

In The Ax and the Earth, the reader is brought back in time to 16th Century Iceland. It is a time of religious and political dissidence. Bishop Jón Arason and his sons struggle with the chaotic transition from Catholicism to Lutheranism under King Christian III. Gunnarsson's bold storytelling, detailed character development, and exploration of themes like faith, loyalty, power, and betrayal create a deeply moving story. With it being written originally in Islandic, and then translated into English, I feel there was nothing lost in the translation. The translation made is so it can resonate with readers worldwide. A must-read for fans of historical fiction, Icelandic history, and powerful literature. What a captivating story. If you are not familiar with Islandic culture and history, you will learn a lot about it, and it is very interesting. There are some things that are unknown to the rest of the world, and this book shares its intensity and its powerfulness with the Reformation. What a gripping and incredible storyline, and even with a long read, it is hard to put down unless you absolutely have to.