About this title: In this allegorical novel, Isak, the hero of the story, is the archetypical man who labors and builds. A wanderer at the start of the tale, he builds a hut to shelter himself from the winds of the moors and decides to settle on the spot. He begins to cultivate the land, and eventually he meets a woman who stays to become his wife and raise his children. In time his farm prospers, his household grows larger and larger, and a village springs up around him. The onset of civilization brings the turmoil of competition and greed, although Isak remains fixed in his simplicity. GROWTH OF THE SOIL is ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: A. A. Knopf, New York
Date Published: 1921
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Clean and Tight. Signed by previous owner on front endpaper. No other markings. Not ex-library. From a private collection. Digital photos available upon request. "Original title 'Markens grøde. '"--Note on verso of t. -p. Includes a short biography of Hamsun: "Knut Hamsun, by W. W. Worster": v. 2, p. 257-276. read more
Edition: Translated from Norwegian by W. W. Worster
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: A. A. Knopf, New York
Date Published: 1958
Description: Good. No dust jacket. Highlighting/underlining. Book-Writing on FFEP, back 3 end pages (not text). DJ-discored on edges and spine, 2" dampstain, edges/corners rubbed. Text in English 435 p.; 22 cm. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc
Date Published: 1921
Description: Good. -6th Printing Ex-Library--No Jacket. Good 12mo-over 6 3/4"-7 3/4" tall 276 pgs. Interior-Near flawless w/ ex-library referencing and light soiling. The boards have only light signs of aging. -Publish Place: New York-Size: read more
Binding: Flexible
Publisher: Modern Library
Date Published: 1921
Description: Very Good. No Jacket. Owner's name and bookplate inside; marks of adhesive have bled through to the title page. Text clean and unmarked, binding tight. read more
Edition: First Vintage Books Edition
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Vintage Books, New York
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780394717814ISBN:0394717813
Description: Very Good. No Jacket. Fiction. 12mo-over 6Ÿ"-7Ÿ" tall. This is Vintage Books # V-781. A story of the land of Norway from one of it's best authors. This translation by W.W. Worster. This volume is in very good condition. The interior is clean and bright. There are two slight creases to the spine. read more
Description: Acceptable. "7th print 1921--Fair, XLIB, Binding loose, some pages loose, spine taped, 304pp, --Translated from Norwegian of Knut Hamsun by W. W. Worster--" read more
Description: Very Good. 0143105108 Copy has been read but remains in nice & clean condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or high-lighting. Spine is tight; a clean read. read more
Edition: Second Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Gyldendal
Date Published: 1920
Description: Poor. No Jacket. Cover has bumping, chipping, fraying, marks, cover is torn off and missing at spine, leaving only the visible binding underneath-Marks on edge-Taped at hinge at FPD/ RPD-POS gift inscripton on FFEP-Cracked, visible binding at a few spots in book-Bumped / dogeared pgs-Yellowing-Some marks on pgs including some spills/stains-Slightly musty as old books are-Cocked-Few tears at few pgs-Lots of pgs have small tears along binding where pages are loosening from binding-Looks worn, ... read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, New York
Date Published: 1926
Description: Good + No DJ. Fifth Printing. 12mo = 7-9" 276pp. Trans. from the Norwegian by W. W. Worster. Cloth covers are slightly soiled, spine is darkened. Top/bottom of spine & corners are bumped. read more
Binding: S Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Random House Inc, Westminster, Maryland, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1972
ISBN-13:9780394717814ISBN:0394717813
Description: As New. This book is solid and square with an unlined spine and lovely cover and appears to be unread. If you dig books like I dig books--YOU'LL DIG THIS BOOK! read more
Edition: Lofoten Edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Date Published: 1927
Description: Fair. No dust jacket. Ex-library. hardback, cover and binding wear and creases. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. Audience: Young adult. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Atheneum
Date Published: 1968
Description: Good. Save some $$$. Perfectly Good Reading Copy. Shelfwear from storage in box with other books. Great Copy. Ships Lightning Fast. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Digireads. com
Date Published: 2008-01-01
ISBN-13:9781420930719ISBN:1420930710
Description: Like New. May be shiny, in some instances dust jackets are not included, no missing pages, no damage to binding, may have a remainder mark. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Random House/Modern Library, New York
Description: 276 pages, including a 19 page biography of Hamsun by W. W. Worster; 12mo, orange cloth. Very good, two small spots cover no marks; no dust jacket. read more
"Imagine "The Good Earth," but set in rural Norway at the turn of the 19th/20th century. The story begins with Isak, the protagonist, hiking out beyond the limits of local civilization, building a turf hut, and slowly claiming a meadow and forest as farmland. His slow progress from solo pioneer to a major landowner and head of a family is narrated at a slow, leisurely pace that seems to mirror Isak's slow thoughts. He is a simple man who knows nothing but the virtue and satisfaction of hard work and the simplest forms of human contentment.
I enjoyed the first part of the book, but as I trudged through the second half I found the author's style and the lack of self-awareness or increasing wisdom or insight on the part of his main characters more and more frustrating. There is no dramatic tension here, only the slow unfolding of years. Even crises like murder trials or near-death accidents are narrated with a simple, fatalistic tone that suggests the outcome doesn't matter one way or the other.
Isak is surrounded by characters who have depths and complexities which he can not begin to understand: his wife Inger, trouble-making neighbor Oline, mysterious Geissler, his out-of-place son Eleuses -- but Hamsum gives us little more insight into them than Isak himself can manage.
Hamsum is considered a great writer, but evidently I lack the literary sophistication to understand why. Perhaps it is the very fact that the story is filtered primarily through Isak's rudimentary understanding rather than catering to a modern reader's sensibilities that makes it exceptional. I only know that I was left wishing for a story that was more compelling than this."
"This wasn't a novel, but moreso a journey. We are allowed to follow the journey of Isak, his family and neighbours in the wilds of northern Norway. The language was compelling, the scenery unthinkable. The subject and the setting was not something I'd usually be interested in, but the writing was so good that I loved this book."
""I do not know how to express the admiration I feel for this wonderful book without seeming to be extravagant. I am not usually lavish with my praise, but indeed the book impresses me as among the very greatest novels I have ever read. It is wholly beautiful; it is saturated with wisdom and humor and tenderness." --H.G>Wells"
"Beste Hamsun-les hittil! Rolig, behagelig, og en snedig forfatterstemme som mer presenterer hendelser enn å fortelle en historie. Man blir glad i bokas hovedpersoner og humrer litt i skjegget av Isaks subtile måte å vise kjærlighet på. Geissler-karakteren oppleves som et bilde på skjebnen, hans finger med i spillet påvirker stadig hvordan livet arter seg for folkene i marken. Hamsun mente nok karakteren mer i religiøst forstand, men det er jo det som er så herlig med kunsten - vi kan tolke den slik vi vil! Det var jo litt same-hets og andre diskriminerende kommentarer, men en positiv overraskelse var en lengere monolog av kvinnesaks-lendmannsfruen. Det satt et lettet perspektiv på alle tjenestejentene som tilfeldigvis alle ble koner til slutt."
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