The Sealwoman's Gift: the Zoe Ball book club novel of 17th century Iceland
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By Sally Magnusson
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2 reviews
1627. In a notorious historical event, pirates raided the coast of Iceland and abducted 400 people into slavery in Algiers. Among them a pastor, his wife, and their children.
In her acclaimed debut novel Sally Magnusson imagines what history does not record: the experience of Asta, the pastor’s wife, as she faces her losses with the one thing left to her – the stories from home – and forges an ambiguous bond with the man who bought her. Uplifting, moving, and sharply witty, The Sealwoman’s Gift speaks across centuries and oceans about loss, love, resilience and redemption.
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A richly woven tapestry of a saga from the history of Iceland. Asta’s character is sensitively drawn and the whole episode covered is from a violent and troubled part of history, probably little known outside Iceland. Recommended.
A beautifully written story about a little known part of history. Not a book I would have naturally chosen but I'm so glad it was recommended to me.
