Burial Rites

A little slow at first, but picked up quickly and was immersing.

The year is 1828 and Agnes Magnusdottir, along with two others, has been condemned to die by beheading for the murders of two men. But the government has spent too much money on the axe to be used for the beheadings, and they can't afford the upkeep of the prisoners until their execution. So Agnes is sent from the prison to the home of Jon Jonsson of Kornsa, the District Officer of Vatnsdalur, and his wife Margret. They are ordered, as part of his duty as District Officer, to take charge of Agnes until the date of her execution. The family is not happy about these orders, but feel they have no choice but to perform their duty.

This novel is a fictional story based on actual events. As the author explains in her Author's Notes: "Agnes Magnusdottir was the last person to be executed in Iceland, convicted for her role in the murders of Natan Ketilsson and Petur Jonsson on the night between the 13th and 14th of March 1828, at Illugastadir, on the Vatnsnes Peninsula, North Iceland." Many of the events int he book are drawn from local history and lore.

Little by little, the life of Agnes is laid bare to the reader, and as heartbreaking as it is, you realize that it is nothing uncommon. This is the life of orphans and paupers.

However this novel is uncommon. It's a modest story, slowly pulling you in, absorbing you bit by bit. It is heart-wrenching at moments, and you yearn for Agnes to find some relief from her fear, and to find love and affection.

Agnes is returned to Kornsa, where she had a family for awhile in her childhood, and gains a family again before her death. She was fostered as a young girl by Inga and Bjorn until Inga died.

Agnes requests as her spiritual attendant Assistant Reverend Thorvardur Jonsson, otherwise known as Toti. He is unclear why Agnes has requested him, and is uncomfortable with the assignment. He is still in training, and nervous about attending to a murderess. But he, like the Kornsa family, performs his duty as ordered.

Toti and Agnes form a bond as he permits her to pour out her soul and rehash her past.

One of my few complaints is that I would have liked to have seen more development in the relationships between Agnes and the family members. I would have liked to have felt warmth between them growing, and her opening up to them. Her relationship with them remained rather stilted.


My final word: This was one of those gentle reads, at times so entrancing it is almost hypnotic, like being rocked to sleep. Affective and sensitive, it moved me and it is beautifully lyrical. I would consider this novel to be rare and extraordinary, and it will carry you along to the bitter end, if you allow it, with tears streaming down your face as you take those final steps. But you aren't alone. Agnes is with you.

Perfect winter read. Based on a true story of the last execution in Iceland. Beautifully written. Lyrical and sad.

a well-written story with beautifully interwoven narratives

It’s certainly not an enjoyable read but it’s a good one. I liked the way the different characters were portrayed by the author. She is obviously a great observer of humanity in all its forms and just because centuries have passed since the events of this story I think we can all relate to the fears and prejudices of the characters in the book. After all, who wouldn’t be fearful of a convicted killer being forcibly billeted into one’s home? We can all be guilty of being too quick to judge before we know a person’s full story. Hannah Kent structures “Burial Rites” in such a way that the reader, from the viewpoint of the present day can begin to understand the different experiences of the characters involved and of the interactions between them. Initially the fears and prejudices towards Agnes are accepted but as Tóti attempts to get to know her better we , along with Margrét see her in a different light and we realise that her story has never been fully heard or understood. Hopefully justice is a lot fairer now. It certainly wasn’t then and definitely not if you were poor or a woman. The story is set in the bleak landscape of Iceland and reference is made to the appalling living conditions of the time and, to make matters worse, in the bleakest of landscapes. For me, some of the descriptions were reminiscent of Thomas Hardy’s portrayal of the sheer drudgery faced by the characters in his Wessex novels. Country folklore manifested by the sightings of Ravens as Agnes describes the journeys she makes were cleverly reflected in the design of the book cover of the edition that I read, with the image of a Raven’s wing wrapping itself around the cover of the book and the page edges dyed blood red; symbolic of lives tragically lost.