Fare, World, Farewell (2023)

An atmospheric and gripping tale of ostracism and dreams.

The robbery at Kambur is an iconic criminal case in Icelandic history. On a winter’s night in 1827, four masked men violently broke into a farmstead called Kambur, tying up and brutally attacking its inhabitants, and stealing a great amount of money. We follow the relentless pursuit of justice by the determined sheriff and his assistant as they investigate the case and attempt to root out the gang that is holding the whole society hostage in fear. However, this is no ordinary crime story. The narrative evokes an atmosphere akin to an American western, but set in Iceland in the early 19th century. The rain, mud, darkness, and hunger create an unbearable environment, while the text brims with imagination and a sense of urgency and tension. It traverses Iceland’s history with poetic nuances, occasional facetiousness, and a deep sympathy for the plight of the common people.

Amidst the investigation, ghosts, spectres, and other eerie creatures haunt the pages, none more prominent than the narrator himself—a deceased boy who roams in the form of a dog, visible only to some, yet witnessing everything. The criminal ringleader, Sigurdur, seems a mixture of a wight and a saga-esque hero. His counterpart is the indomitable heroine, Thuridur, a sharp-witted ship’s captain, who plays a crucial role in solving the case with her exceptional insight.

Reviews

Humor, colorful characters, and an original narrative style … The author does this with great artistry … The language plays exceptionally well in Ofeigur's hands, and here he has produced a carefully constructed, hilariously witty, and at times pitch-black novel that keeps the reader on their toes. Fare, World, Farwell is an original, humorous, well-written, and cohesive story about humanity, frailty, and death. This is a book that will not disappoint Ofeigur's fans and will hopefully reach many new readers as well.

SNAEDIS BJORNSDOTTIR, MORGUNBLADID DAILY

Ofeigur’s descriptions of nature are phenomenal … There are few Icelandic writers who can manipulate the language quite like Ofeigur. That’s not referring to wordplay but rather the kind of expressiveness and play with different registers of language that characterize his style. In this new novel, as in Wasteland and Hekla’s Fissure, the author’s stylistic skills are on display. Ofeigur interweaves many centuries of the language and the result is a delight at times, a real treat for those who like to dwell in the language down to the individual word.

SOFFIA AUDUR BIRGISDOTTIR, VIDSJA/ICELANDIC NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE

...resonates with the modern era... mystical, takes place at the boundaries of dreams, the supernatural, and indistinct memories.

ASGEIR INGOLFSSON, HEIMILDIN WEEKLY