The Icelandic Canadian - 01.04.1988, Page 49

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
47
Reykjavik With his education and experi-
ence, it is not surprising that he handles the
Icelandic language with ease and grace.
Any difficulties that one might have in
reading this book are caused not by the
lucidity of the language. The style is forth-
right and clear. Whatever difficulties there
are, are caused by the complexity of the
plot, the numbers of characters involved,
and the mind-boggling problems of depict-
ing 10th and 11th century characters in-
volved with modern events and, as men-
tioned earlier, the degree to which the book
reflects Icelandic social, economic, politi-
cal, and military problems. In short, it is a
complex and thought-provoking book,
and not especially easy to read.
As Kristj&n Gunnarsson said himself in
a recent letter in which he discussed Refska:
Well, I’ve said enough about Refska. The
book is extremely political as you see and one
has to read much between the lines. Some-
times one has to read again and again to catch
on to what is being said. At least that is what a
number of people who have undertaken to
read this dreadful book have told me. I do not
expect that Refska will be read very much by
the ordinary reader, but I know that a number
of politicians and members of parliament have
read it.
At another point in the same letter he says:
I have never expected that Refska will be any
“best seller.” It is too difficult a nut to crack
and too complicated for the casual reader. It
will never make the author a millionaire . . .
The sale has been neither greater nor less than
I expected.
For the reasons adduced above, we
must admit that it is a difficult book to read
and will probably not appeal to those who
read merely to pass the time away, although
the humor in it and the high spirits of the
author just might attract even such readers.
But for the serious person — one who
enjoys pondering on philosophical matters,
one who enjoys watching the game of
politics being played, one who is interested
in world affairs, one who agonizes on what
the super powers intend to do to solve their
political and military problems, this book
is not only entertaining; it is mind-
nourishing.
Reviewed by Loftur Bjarnason
Professor of Literature
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, California
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