Customer Reviews

Quire of Seven

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Short stories could be considered the step children of Literature. Usually not the center of attention, but worthy of consideration nevertheless. This slim collection of seven Halldór Laxness stories is a real curio, redeemed by Halldór's wonderful language and sharp insight into the human condition. His novels have been reviewed here at Amazon many times. This edition was published by Iceland Review in 1974 in a lively translation by Alan Boucher; it has a minimal preface and no notes.

The stories give the sense of being parts of a larger whole, indeed, "The Pigeon Banquet" was incorporated into a play and "A Place of Safety shares" elements of the novel "The Fish Can Sing." They are all wonderful, quirky and humorous, if verging on the fantastic at times. My favorite is "An Inland Fishing Trip", wherein the narrator is a befuddled bank clerk who is left at home, alone, for the first time in his married life. His plans for a fishing trip with some cronies ends in disaster, his pleas for help from the neighbor women become exercises in impotence and futility. "Corda Atlantica" is a satiric commentary on modern life- extremely dense with detail and references, while the other stories explore more banal realities in brilliant style. Not always the easiest read, in fact quite challenging at times, but certainly worthy of consideration of any Laxness fan. If one of his novels were a banquet, these stories would be delicious, rich chocolates.