In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnusdottir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men.
Agnes is sent to wait on the farm of District Officer Jon Jonsson and his family, who are horrified and avoid Agnes. Only Toti, the young assistant reverend appointed as Agnes's spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the summer months fall away to winter, Agnes's story begins to emerge. And as the days to her execution draw closer, the question burns: did she or didn't she?
Based on a true story, Burial Rites is a deeply moving novel about freedom and the ways we will risk everything for love. In beautiful, cut-glass prose, Hannah Kent portrays Iceland's formidable landscape, and asks: how can one woman endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others?
WINNER OF THE INDIE AWARDS DEBUT FICTION OF THE YEAR 2014
WINNER OF THE VICTORIAN PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARD PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD 2014
WINNER OF THE FAW CHRISTINA STEAD AWARD 2014
WINNER OF THE ABA NIELSEN BOOKDATA BOOKSELLERS' CHOICE AWARD 2014
WINNER OF THE ABIA LITERARY FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014
WINNER OF THE SMH BEST YOUNG AUSTRALIAN NOVELIST 2014
WINNER OF THE BOOKTOPIA PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR THE STELLA PRIZE 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEYS WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR THE VICTORIAN PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARD FOR FICTION 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ALS GOLD MEDAL 2014
SHORTLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD 2013
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NIB WAVERLEY AWARD FOR LITERATURE 2013
Burial Rites
This is the story of Agnes; a woman convicted of a murder she may or may not have committed. The mysteries of her life are unravelled in this thrilling novel and chapter by chapter, her story is uncovered.
Set in Iceland, 1829, Agnes arrives at her holding house and meets the Jonsson family to find her presence obviously unwanted. But as the Jonsson family learn more about her telling of the murder and more about the life of Agnes, they begin to wonder whether or not she is to blame for the gruesome murder of 2 men.
Based on a true story, Burial Rites is a beautifully written novel with no detail left off the page. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers, fiction and a classical style of writing where the detail allows the imagination to run wild. This is a book I would read over and over again. - Elle.
QBD the bookshop, 10/05/2016
