About the book
An Icelandic poet, the greatest talent of his generation, lies severely injured in a hospital in a foreign country and recalls happy and sad moments in his life. His mind wanders to the terrible fate of a shepherd boy in the countryside at home, while old trials of the heart occupy his thoughts as well; all that was said and unsaid.
Journey’s End is a historical novel drawn from the extraordinary life of the national poet Jonas Hallgrimsson and the strange events that unfolded in his home valley during his youth, in the early parts of the 19th century.
The story offers a fresh perspective on the poet and the society that nurtured him, capturing the contrasts between the vibrant city life abroad and the impoverished countryside of northern Iceland. Those opposing worlds shaped both the man and his works, making for a story of varied fortunes and fleeting luck that is both poignant and profound.
