The Dark Rose (2008)

2008

408 pages

Fiction

The Dark Rose (2008)

The stage is Reykjavik in the years 1969 to 1971, years of conflict between the old time and the new; the years when Kinks and Led Zeppelin hold concerts in Iceland, young people look towards the future in a state either of expectation or intoxication, as the case may be, and the older generation really don‘t know what hit them. The dramatis personnae is formed by two picturesque families in town. The characters come in all sizes and shapes; from the rebellious teenage girl to the well-meaning theology student, from the longhaired drummer to the old car mechanic, from the colourless accountant to the actress who is permanently on stage. The action is spun around the fates of these two families, unexpectedly entwined together in an enthralling read.

R E V I E W S

„Good read.“ Egill Helgason, Kiljan, Icelandic National TV

Reviews

Gunnarsson is a born raconteur…he entertains, provokes thought, and leaves a little bit of a chill in the soul. Cruelty, humour, and complete mastery of the form.

Frettabladid daily

The Dark Rose is a dramatic as well as a sensitive novel, charged with tension and anguish.

Sigurdur G. Tomasson, Radio saga

[Gunnarsson] is especially successful in his portrayals of people. ... The construction of the plot ... is obviously created by an expert storyteller. The course of the narrative is effortless and at the same time so powerful that at times you may even feel it comes too easily. ... The skill is consists primarily in the composition, not only does Gunnarsson successfully convey information about the characters but he also excels in the construction and coupling of individual chapters. ... Thus Gunnarsson braids a thick cable of a story that pulls any reader through to the end.

Gauti Kristmannsson, The Icelandic Broadcasting Service

It is tremendously hard to put this book away. You would prefer to swallow it whole in one go. Every page has events that make the reader anxious to continue. In fact it can be said that The Dark Rose is more thrilling than any crime novel.

Ingvi Thor Kormaksson, www.bokmenntir.is

[The characters] are lifelike and believable and the story is propelled onwards by especially vivacious conversations and eventful plot. … The story is very dramatic and so vivid that it cries out to be made into a movie. Here a person stands before God and random destiny and deals with questions regarding liberty forgiveness, revenge and justice. Although dark in places and the course of events is sombre, the story shines with sharp sense of humour, deep solidarity and humanity..

Steinunn Inga Ottarsdottir, Morgunbladid newspaper

Arresting story ... this is a good book.

Kolbrun Bergthorsdóttir, Kiljan, Icelandic National TV

Good read.

Egill Helgason, Kiljan, Icelandic National TV

A huge and far-reaching drama with powerful fates ... thrilling.

Pall Baldvin Baldvinsson, Kiljan, Icelandic National TV

[Olafur Gunnarsson is] the Cadillac of Icelandic writers.

Sigmundur Ernir Runarsson, Mannamal, TV2

Gunnarsson‘s story is vivacious, the style fast and often funny and the story thrilling..

Vikverji, Morgunbladid newspaper

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Translation rights sold

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