Guardian of the Gate (Innbundet)

Author:

Aksel Selmer

Norwegian title: Bomvokteren
Author:
Binding: Innbundet
Year: 2013
Pages: 168
Publisher: Cappelen Damm
Språk: Bokmål
ISBN/EAN: 9788202409500
Overview Bomvokteren

Bomvokteren is the tale of a young girl who inherits the job of gate guardian when her grandfather grows older and falls ill. The job involves watching the gate at a mountain pass, and the girl must live alone in a miserable cabin at the side of the road.

It is a restricted and strange universe that is depicted; surrounded by the foggy and barren natural landscape around her, she continues her toil alone at the gate station as the cars come and go, occasionally making a stop.

There are familiar elements within this story, but reality doesn't necessarily resemble what we know. The tale could as easily be set in the 1950s or 60s as it could in the near future. The living conditions differ from our own, and survival in the harshest of environments is key.

‘Norwegian Aksel Selmer surprises with a story about the conditions for goodness in an evil world that is equal parts beautiful, strange and grim. This is outstanding.’
6/6,
JYLLANDSPOSTEN

‘Fascinating story about a young, naïve girl appointed to look after a turnpike on a lonely mountain. ... Publisher Jensen & Dalgaard found this hypnotising story by Norwegian Aksel Selmer, ... a small publisher that finds and publishes translated quality literature from abroad. And that is precisely what Bomvogtersken is.’
WEEKENDAVISEN

‘Myth and realism combine in Aksel Selmer’s fascinating Bomvogtersken. A world that is both mystifying yet familiar.’
BERLINGSKE TIDENDE

‘Aksel Selmer has written a great novel. High time that the reading public discovered this author’s works.’
DAG OG TID

‘It is what remains elusive and unresolved in Bomvokteren that attracts you. That you can never be quite certain elicits a mixed feeling of repulsion and enchantment – and that is what stimulates in new writing.’
DAGSAVISEN

Bomvokteren is a fascinating novel that, among other themes, deals with how to survive, face up to challenges, be poor and totally under control of others and how to live at the intersection between two worlds.’
FÆDRELANDSVENNEN

To the top

More books by Aksel Selmer:

Reviews Bomvokteren

"Myte og realisme sammenføjes i Aksel Selmers fascinerende Bomvogtersken. Det er en på én gang mytisk og genkendelig verden."

Jeppe Krogsgaard Christensen , Berlingske Tidende

Et bragende stød i hjertekulen

Bomvogtersken” er en lige dele smuk, sælsom og grum fabel fra virkelighedens overdrev. Og så er den fantastisk flot skrevet og oversat. De korte, nøgne sætninger er blottet for føleri og understøtter eminent det prunkløse hændelsesforløb med de foruroligende undertoner."

 
Jyllandsposten, Christian Møgeltoft

(...)man har vist gjort det til en specialitet hos det lille forlag at finde og udgive overset kvalitetslitteratur fra udlandet. Dertil hører Bomvogtersen."

Arne Hardis, Weekendavisen

Fascinerande om å ta utfordringar

"Bomvokteren er ein fascinerande roman, mellom anna om å overleve, om å ta utfordringar, om å vere fattig og totalt utlevert til andre menneske, om å leve i skjeringspunktet mellom to verder."

Bjarne Tveiten, Fædrelandsvennen

"Aksel Selmer har skrive ein flott roman. Det er på tide at det lesande publikum oppdagar denne forfattarskapen."

Oddmund Hagen, Dag og Tid

"Det er det subtile og uforløste i Bomvokteren som appellerer. Det at man ikke helt vet, vekker en blandet reaksjon av vemmelse og begeistring – og det er forfriskende i ny litteratur."

Thea Urdal, Dagsavisen

To the top

Author Aksel Selmer

Aksel Selmer (b. 1958) made his literary début with a poetry collection called Hit skulle det ha kommet noen flere in 1992. Since then he has had another collection of poetry published, as well as ten novels for adults and young readers.

To the top

Foreign rights
Denmark

To the top