Literature and Fiction · Hardback

Giæver and Iunker

Norwegian title: Giæver og Iunker

Erlend Loe

Hey! Look at me when I’m talking! Are you writing this down? Are you ready? Are you recording? I’d like you to record and take notes at the same time. That way you’ll get everything. What isn’t said disappears. What is said disappears too, it just takes longer. Okay? Are you ready? Good.

I'm not telling you this for fun, I'm doing it for you, and for all Giævers be they alive, dead or yet to be born. You’re not writing! Pen to paper! There you go. Now I’ll begin.

My name is Giæver.

The valley where the Giævers live is shared with the Iunker-family who live on the neighbouring farm. But they are not very neighnourly, as the two families have been in a conflict for over eight hundred years.

Old-Giæver is approaching the end of his life and spends his last days on earth informing Young-Giæver about their family history, about practical things like the mud stick, the pick-up, suet cakes, pillows, ships, women and obviously the conflict with the Iunker-family. Giæver doesn’t want to leave this life without ensuring customs and practices, knowledge, life wisdom and most importantly the hatred towards the Iunkers is continued by the next generation.

Erlend Loe is back in tip-top shape with his peculiar humour and sharp observations. Written like a monologue delivered by Old-Giæver, this is a gem of a book.

«Giæver and Iunker is a riot of a tall tale.»BERGENS TIDENE, five/six stars

«You're guaranteed a laughing fit from this, here we have Erlend Loe just as we like him.»RANDABERG 24, five/six stars

«... verbally witty and satirical. [...] Loe is still a punner of rank.»ADRESSEAVISEN