Overview

The Tower at the Edge of the World is William Heinesen's last novel written when he was 76, and is the summation of all of his work. He is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Nordic author of the twentieth century. William Heinesen describes The Tower at the Edge of the World as a poetic mosaic novel about earliest childhood. There is the perspective of both the child and the old man looking back at his life as a child. Although there is a lot of tangible detail and recognisable characters the book has a mythic quality. The events in a small community in the windswept Atlantic ocean being recorded by the writer in his room, his tower at the edge of the world, have a larger than life feel. Torshavn and his childhood are used to tell the history of the world and of creation. AUTHOR: William Heinesen (1900-1991) was born in Torshavn in the Faroe Islands, the son of a Danish mother and Faroese father, and he was equally at home in both languages. Although he spent most of his life in the Faroe Islands he chose to write in Danish as he felt it offered him greater inventive freedom. Internationally known as a poet and a novelist he made his living as an artist. His paintings range from large-scale murals in public buildings, through oil to pen sketches, caricatures and collages.

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9781910213667

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'Heinesen was, by a long way the best writer that the Faroe Islands have ever produced. and the most important Scandinavian novelist of the 20th century, and he only declined a Nobel prize because he thought it should go to someone who wrote in Faeroese, which he didn't.' The Independent on Sunday 'Heinesen was a great chronicler of the Faroes, and his novels will definitely resonate with Scots readers who enjoy stories set in Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides.' Alastair Mabbott in The Sunday Herald William Heinesen's novels are intensely Faeroese, but so universal in their appeal that the reader automatically surrenders to their charm, their energy, their easy intensity and is overwhelmed by the perspective they convey. The Independent Heinesen was the best writer the Faroe Islands ever produced and the most important Scandinavian novelist of the 20th C, and he only declined a Nobel prize because he thought it should go to someone who wrote in Faeroese, which he didn't. -- The Independent on Sunday Heinesen's novels are intensely Faeroese, but so universal in their appeal that the reader automatically surrenders to their charm, their energy and their easy intensity... -- The Independent

"'Heinesen was, by a long way the best writer that the Faroe Islands have ever produced. and the most important Scandinavian novelist of the 20th century, and he only declined a Nobel prize because he thought it should go to someone who wrote in Faeroese, which he didn't.' The Independent on Sunday 'Heinesen was a great chronicler of the Faroes, and his novels will definitely resonate with Scots readers who enjoy stories set in Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides.' Alastair Mabbott in The Sunday Herald William Heinesen's novels are intensely Faeroese, but so universal in their appeal that the reader automatically surrenders to their charm, their energy, their easy intensity and is overwhelmed by the perspective they convey. The Independent ""Heinesen was the best writer the Faroe Islands ever produced and the most important Scandinavian novelist of the 20th C, and he only declined a Nobel prize because he thought it should go to someone who wrote in Faeroese, which he didn't."" -- The Independent on Sunday ""Heinesen's novels are intensely Faeroese, but so universal in their appeal that the reader automatically surrenders to their charm, their energy and their easy intensity..."" -- The Independent"

Author Information

William Heinesen (1900-1991) was born in Torshavn in the Faroe Islands, the son of a Danish mother and Faroese father, and was equally at home in both languages. Although he spent most of his life in the Faroe Islands he chose to write in Danish as he felt it offered him greater inventive freedom. Although internationally known as a poet and a novelist he made his living as an artist. His paintings range from large-scale murals in public buildings, through oil to pen sketches, caricatures and collages. It is Dedalus's intention to make available all of William Heinesen's 7 novels in English. W. Glyn Jones (1928-2014) had a distinguished career as an academic, a writer and a translator. He taught at various universities in England and Scandinavia before becoming Professor of Scandinavian Studies at Newcastle and then at the University of East Anglia. He also spent two years as Professor of Scandinavian Literature in the Faeroese Academy. On his retirement from teaching he was created a Knight of the Royal Danish Order of the Dannebrog. He has written widely on Danish, Faeroese and Finland-Swedish literature and his many translations from Danish include the 7 novels of Heinesen.

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