Xiania 2 - Ada (Innbundet)

Series: Xiania 2

Author:

Lotta Elstad

Norwegian title: Xiania 2 - Ada
Author:
Binding: Innbundet
Year: 2024
Pages: 352
Publisher: Cappelen Damm
Språk: Bokmål
Series: Xiania
Serienummer: 2
ISBN/EAN: 9788202663254
Overview Xiania 2 - Ada

Ada is born around 1880. There is no birth certificate. Her father is a fisherman and gambler. Her mother is absent and almost always pregnant. Most of her children die, and she herself dies in labor when Ada is fifteen. Ada is the lone witness to this brutal event, and the one who has to deliver her bloodied, orphaned little brother.

Soon after, her father loses Ada's hand in a card game. On her honeymoon, she runs away and flees to Xiania. She finds lodging and works as a cleaning lady at an “establishment”, fronted by a delicatessen, and run by a certain Madame Josefine. Ada begins to kick prostitutes in the stomach as an abortion method. Her services are high in demand.

This is the start of a journey that ends with Ada inheriting the delicatessen, getting rid of the anchovy smell and taking the alias Madam Zavarella. She opens a hat shop on the ground floor – and an abortion clinic in the basement. The story ends in 1923, when a young girl, Klara, knocks her door.

Xiania 2: Ada is a raw tale of a run-down part of town, of life and death, of drinking and sex, of women’s health and abortion, of underpaid drudges and colourful procuresses, thieves, smugglers and circus folk.

«Lotta Elstad balances well here, between serious political morals and playful entertainment. [...] It breathes and thumps, and sizzles and smells – of Elstad's Kristiania.»
Dagsavisen

«There's not a lot of fun in the Xiania series, but Lotta Elstad can certainly write.»
Stavanger aftenblad, five/six stars

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More books by Lotta Elstad:

Reviews Xiania 2 - Ada

Fyll, hor og gamledager 24.09.2024

«... jaggu kan Lotta Elstad skrive.»

«Jeg er imponert av forarbeidet som Elstad har lagt ned»

 
Steinar Brandslet, Stavanger Aftenblad

Et grotesk mesterstykke om abort 12.10.2024

«Tidvis er skildringene av kroppslig avfall og deformiteter så realistiske at man føler man står i møkka selv.»

«Xiania 2 er så mye mer enn en drivende historisk roman.»

Eilif Guldvog Hartvedt, Aftenposten

Det hesliges estetikk 28.09.2024

«Elstads prosa er som alltid humørfylt og kjapp.»

Ida Vågsether, Klassekampen - Bokmagasinet

Volden på Vateland 06.09.2024

«Lotta Elstad balanserer fint her, mellom alvorlig politisk budskap og sprelsk underholdning.»

«... et veldig tempo og driv.»

«Det puster og banker, og freser og lukter - av Elstads Kristiania.»

«Det blir gøy å se hvor Elstad ender opp i Xiania 3.»

Gerd Elin Stava Sandve, Dagsavisen

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Author Lotta Elstad

Lotta Elstad (1982-) is a writer, journalist, historian and non-fiction editor. She has since her debut in 2008 published several acclaimed books, both narrative non-fiction and novels.

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