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|title=Burial Rites

|author=Hannah Kent

|website=http://hannahkentauthor.com/

|video=ceGnf2h0XU8

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Fridrik, Agnes and Sigridur are accused of murdering two men on an Icelandic night in 1829. Now Agnes awaits execution, imprisoned in the farm of a lowly local family who, rumour has it, wouldn't be too great a loss if the prisoner becomes dangerous. Margrit Jonsdottir (the farmer's wife) doesn't feel threatened and sets the shocked, malnourished Agnes to work. Gradually Agnes reveals the events of that night to Margrit and Toti, a young priest. Predictably her version seems to be a little different from what everyone else concluded. Or perhaps not so predictably.

Going back to the end, I don't know how much of Agnes' fate will emerge via publicity blurb and interviews but if you don't know the historic outcome, please don't seek the answer. Although you don't need that level of unknowing to enjoy the book, being ignorant of where it's going adds to the experience. It's only this that prevents me from discussing an ending I'm desperate to talk about and, when you get there, you'll see why. You'll also see why I have a new, burgeoning interest in Icelandic history and whatever Hannah Kent chooses to write about next.

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[[Category:Literary Fiction]]