The Blue Tower

by Þórarinn Eldjárn

Gudmundur Andresson is incarcerated in the blue tower. With fine wit and rich bawdy he reflects on the calamity his talents, appetites, and taste for satirical verse have brought upon him." This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1899197451
• ISBN13: 9781899197453
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Mare's Nest
• Length: 186 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Wit and Wonder

When I picked up this book, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It was originally written in Icelandic and I knew next to nothing about Iceland. But as I started reading, I discovered the brilliant wit and engaging style of its author, Thorarinn Eldjarn. The Blue Tower tells the story of Gudmunder Andresson, a man who is imprisoned in the Blue Tower for violating the Great Edict, a stringent adultery law. As he sits in the Blue Tower, awaiting death, Gudmunder looks back upon his life. Although he is born a simple peasant, his determination and his insatiable thirst for knowledge allow him to become a religious scholar. Yet at every step of the way, the forces of jealousy and slander block him from attaining the success he deserves. Pompous bishops, mischievous schoolmates, and a wicked one-eyed tailor all try to destroy him. But his knowledge and his ardent faith serve to sustain him. This is a work of wit and wonder, as humorous as it is wise. It is truly one of the most intelligently written novels that you will ever read.