Book description
Mysteries is a classic of European literature, one of the seminal
novels of the twentieth century. It is the story of Johan Nagel, a
strange young man who arrives to spend a summer in a small Norwegian
coastal town. His presence acts as a catalyst for the hidden impulses,
concealed thoughts and darker instincts of the local people. Cursed
with the ability to understand the human soul, especially his own,
Nagel can foresee, but cannot prevent, his own self-destruction.
Born in 1859, Knut Hamsun's early works were forceful and polemic
before he became more compassionate in his later work, drawing
inspiration from the country people of his native Norway. He was awarded
the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1920 for Growth of the Soil. He has
been recognised as one of the greatest literary figures of the twentieth
century.
