Burial Rites

the breathtaking historical Icelandic crime thriller

De: Hannah Kent

Narrado por: Morven Christie

BBC Between the Covers Book Club pick!

Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who is charged with the brutal murder of her former master.

Inspired by a true story, Burial Rites is perfect for fans of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood and The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

- The Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist
- The Guardian First Book Award Shortlist
- The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards Shortlist

Iceland, 1829 – Agnes Magnúsdóttir is condemned to death for her part in the murder of her lover.

Agnes is sent to wait out her final months on the farm of district officer Jón Jónsson, his wife and their two daughters. Horrified to have a convicted murderer in their midst, the family avoid contact with Agnes. Only Tóti, the young assistant priest appointed Agnes’s spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the year progresses and the hardships of rural life force the household to work side by side, Agnes’s story begins to emerge and with it the family’s terrible realization that all is not as they had assumed.

Based on actual events, Burial Rites is an astonishing and moving novel about the truths we claim to know and the ways in which we interpret what we’re told. In beautiful, cut-glass prose, Hannah Kent portrays Iceland’s formidable landscape, in which every day is a battle for survival, and asks, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others?

'Outstanding' – Madeline Miller

'Sublime' – Sunday Telegraph

Reseñas de la Crítica

&#39;A story of swirling sagas, poetry, bitterness, claustrophobia . . . through the long countdown towards Agnes&#39;s fate, it is Kent&#39;s heart-racing imagery that lingers . . . even the bleakness of Agnes&#39;s end, its gut-churning fear, holds an exhilaration that borders on the sublime.&#39; <i>Sunday Telegraph</i>

&lsquo;A remarkable achievement . . . <i>Burial Rites</i> will stand comparison with Margaret Atwood&rsquo;s <i>Alias Grac</i>e and Peter Carey&rsquo;s <i>True History of the Kelly Gang.</i>&rsquo;

One of the most <b>gripping, intriguing and unique</b> books I&rsquo;ve read this year . . . A novel that <b>bristles with beautiful description</b>, that lays bare the harshness of women&rsquo;s lives of the period and considers the nature of justice (Kate Mosse)

&#39;<b>So gripping I wanted to rush through the pages</b>, but so beautifully written I wanted to linger over every sentence. <b>Outstanding</b>.&#39; Madeline Miller, Orange Prize-winning author of <i>The Song of Achilles</i>

&lsquo;<b>Gorgeous and haunting</b>, <i>Burial Rites</i> will touch your heart.&rsquo; Charlotte Rogan, author of <i>The Lifeboat</i>

&#39;The debut that everyone&#39;s talking about&#39; <i>Guardian</i>

&lsquo;A debut of rare sophistication and beauty &ndash; a simple but moving story, meticulously researched and hauntingly told.&rsquo; <i>Observer</i>

&#39;Startlingly vivid . . . This is a tormented tale of love and betrayal and divided loyalties recounted with heartfelt honesty . . . An exceptional debut.&#39; <i>Sunday Express</i>

&lsquo;Hannah&#39;s rendering of Agnes Magn&uacute;sd&oacute;ttir is as <b>vivid and authentic</b> as Mailer&#39;s Gary Gilmore . . . She has resurrected her heroine with grace and skill; her writing style is innately lyrical . . . <b>An amazing book. I was completely engrossed </b>all the way through, and heartbroken at its end.&rsquo; Donal Ryan, Man Booker longlisted author of <i>The Spinning Heart</i>

&lsquo;<b>Haunting</b> . . . startlingly vivid . . . This is a tormented <b>tale of love and betrayal</b> and divided loyalties recounted with heartfelt honesty . . . <b>An exceptional debut</b>.&rsquo; Eithne Farry, <i>Sunday Express</i>

&#39;Remarkable . . . extraordinary . . . <i>Burial Rites </i>is thought-provoking and often deeply moving . . . Beautifully written, this is a novel that will draw you in and touch your heart. Agnes will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.&#39; <i>Daily Express</i>

loved it

I love the reader's voice as well as the story. I even listened to the last few chapters talking about the story and the true events it's based on.

Brilliant, beautiful, haunting and heartbreaking!

Burial Rites is an absolutely unforgettable and magnificent novel and one of my new all-time favorites! The narrator was perfect!

Very lyrical and compellingly adictive.

Somber but beautiful. The historical accuracy to this event is what makes it stand apart.

Heartbreaking and beautiful

One of the best books I've ever read. Like Ilugastadir it is at the same time harsh, isolating, cold and beautiful and moving.

Excellent story - deep characters

I loved this from a story standpoint as well as an exposure into a historical time, in a place I’ve never been. It was a fantastic book. Emotional, and excellent character development!

Heart breaking

This book is so visceral and heart breaking. The reading is flawless. Very highly recommended.

Very Enjoyable

Morven Christie narration possibly the best ever I has listened to on Audible.
Well researched, well written. Author has powerful command of metaphor.

the icelandic is nit accuard at times.

the pronounciation on Icelandic names, places and words where bit accuard to hear for a native speaker. but the book is good.

Beautiful written, true literary craftsmanship

What an engaging story, fully developed characters and as Hannah Kent herself says ‘a dark love letter to Iceland’. Loved it

The story, as told in the beautiful Icelandic prose and poetry.

Loved everything about the audible version, and I will read the book later just to check my first 5 star rating in a long time.