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Monday, January 09, 2017

Reader's Diary #1433- Björnstjerne Björnson: The Father


Björnstjerne Bjornson's "The Father" has a peculiar style that, knowing it is a translation, makes me wonder if the original Norwegian felt quite the same. The titular father, Thord, makes a curious request of a priest, than a few short, clipped sentences later, time has elapsed, and this repeats again 3 more times. It all feels rather rapid and impatient to get to a moral.

It's like a parable, I suppose, although perhaps its the presence of a priest that has implanted that idea in my head. I take it as a lesson in pride, even pride over ones' children.


Dokka Church by Marcus Ramberg, on Flickr

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