Luring tale of a list soul in a hapless, helpless situation. Beautiful writing makes this a must read. The weather, the characters, the helplessness work together to create a unique setting. It's sad , very sad,. Life sometimes forces us to have an opinion until we obtain more insight which makes us question our own lives as well.
Definately one of my all time favourites.

Although a debut novel, Burial Rites has hit the bestseller lists because its content is steeped in history and captures the imagination. Agnes Magnusdottir was the last female executed in Iceland in the nineteenth century. After being condemned to die and because there are no jails where she can be held, the task of housing her falls to the family of a local magistrate. The family are forced to re-evaluate their notions about Agnes as they hear her tell her story and lay her soul bare to a young minister. Gradually we see that Agnes is not the monster the press and government officials have portrayed her to be. Although set nearly two hundred years ago, there is much in this novel which is still pertinent in our world today. This beautifully evocative novel tells a story which is obviously very dear to the heart of Hannah Kent.

This book has been on the best sellers list for a while but it really captured my attention when Hannah Kent was the subject of Australia Story one night in July.

The book is a novel based on the true story of Agnes Magnusdottir, the last woman to be executed in Iceland.

It is a very moving story of love, crime, perception of people and questioning who we believe.

Hannah Kent is a young South Australian author who writes beautiful prose to tell her version of this historical story.

Burial Rites is the first novel by Australian author, Hannah Kent. In 2003, during an exchange year in Iceland, Hannah Kent became interested with events leading up to the last execution to occur in that country. Thus began ten years of research into Agnes Magnusdottir, beheaded by axe in 1829 for her role in the murder of two sleeping men. Eventually Kent produced a novel in which she aimed to show another side to this condemned woman. This novel won the Writing Australia Unpublished Manuscript Award, and deservedly so. Kent takes the many facts she has uncovered in her extensive research and, along with fictional likelihoods, weaves them into a fascinating tale of love, cruelty, passion and betrayal. Kent fills out the real and fictional characters, giving them a depth that cannot be gleaned from recorded data. A great wealth of interesting facts about early 19th century Iceland is incorporated into the story, giving it a wonderful authenticity. With sparkling prose, Kent evokes both the feel of northern Iceland and emotions of her characters. Gems like I staggered in the light of the world and took deep gulps of fresh sea air. It was late in the day: the wet mouth of the afternoon was full on my face. My soul blossomed in that brief moment. and I had no friends. I didnt understand the landscape. Only the outlying tongues of rock scarred the perfect kiss of sea and sky there was no one and nothing else. There was nowhere else to go. abound. Kents mentor for this masterpiece was, very appropriately, Geraldine Brooks: this genre is right up her alley. This is a powerful and moving first novel, and readers will eagerly await Hannah Kents next work.

Great to see a young lass from Adelaide town doing so well.

This is a brilliant book, so well written you actually feel as if you are in living in 19th century Iceland.

Read it!!

In this, her first novel, Kent has based her tale on the true story of the last person executed in Iceland, Agnes Magnusdottir.

Kent does a masterful job of keeping the facts of the historical events in line, including some of the original documents relating to the case at the start of chapters at appropriate moments of the story's progression. Where she really excels is her exploration of the emotions, relationships and motives of the people involved. From Agnes' confessor and the family she is sent to live her last months with, through to Agnes herself, we get to know the characters slowly but surely, as they reveal their personalities. This comes along with vivid descriptions of place, where the interior is isolating, bleak, and bitterly cold, and interiors are dim, dark, close and crowded, that really make it clear how much the environment itself plays a part.

Although we already know the ending (she dies, obviously), the suspense builds throughout. I really wanted to know from Agnes' own mouth whether she did what she was accused of, if so, why, how she felt about it, all of that. You will want to know, too. You'll just have to read it to find out.

I can't wait for more from Hannah Kent!

Not being a huge historical fiction fan I wouldnt normally pick up a book like Burial Rites however the hype and speculation surrounding the advance author Hannah Kent got for this book had me intrigued. Its rumoured that she received the highest ever book advance in Australian history and the rights were auctioned off around the world after a large bidding war an amazing achievement for a debut author.



Burial Rites is based on the true story of the last female to be sentenced to death in Iceland in 1829 and follows her last months on a farm living with a district officer and his family before her execution. Hannah has created an incredibly cold and bleak world that outlines the hardships and unforgiving harshness of the landscapes and the family that Agnes now lives in. However shes managed to find warmth in the smallest of things and this overly vivid description of Agnes Magnusdottirs world is what makes this book such a moving and fantastic read. This is one book that will definitely live up to the hype.

Not being a huge historical fiction fan I wouldnt normally pick up a book like Burial Rites however the hype and speculation surrounding the advance author Hannah Kent got for this book had me intrigued. Its rumoured that she received the highest ever book advance in Australian history and the rights were auctioned off around the world after a large bidding war an amazing achievement for a debut author.



Burial Rites is based on the true story of the last female to be sentenced to death in Iceland in 1829 and follows her last months on a farm living with a district officer and his family before her execution. Hannah has created an incredibly cold and bleak world that outlines the hardships and unforgiving harshness of the landscapes and the family that Agnes now lives in. However shes managed to find warmth in the smallest of things and this overly vivid description of Agnes Magnusdottirs world is what makes this book such a moving and fantastic read. This is one book that will definitely live up to the hype.