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The Great Weaver from Kashmir (1927)

de Halldór Laxness, Halldór Laxness,

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'Laxness is a beacon in twentieth-century literature, a writer of splendid originality, wit, and feeling.' -Alice Munro
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Written when he was 25 Laxness's first major novel as it happens was The Great Weaver from Kashmir. In some respects it's an odd book and I feel obliged to warn potential readers that the first half of it or so meanders about a lot--the second half brings everything into very sharp focus though and is where maybe Halldor first really finds his voice as one of the greatest novel writers of the 20th century.

Going into this I had a limited (and still do actually) idea about Halldor's biography. Referencing Great Weaver we find in Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature these comments--'[Great Weaver]-is about a young man who is torn between his religious faith and the pleasures of the world'. Right afterwards it mentions Laxness aftterwards going to the United States where he turned to socialism. Onward to Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia which comments further--'As a world traveler, he discovered Expressionism in Germany and Surrealism in France, both of which influenced his work, and he was converted to Catholicism in Luxembourg.' Mention is then made of the Great Weaver as 'reflect(ing) his spiritual turmoil and the discontent that led him to the church. A meeting with Upton Sinclair during a visit to the U. S. caused another conversion, this time to communism.'

I reference these sources because I think it's useful in order to understand the motivation behind his first major work. Anyway one might conclude that Laxness was drawn to spiritual and social justice issues--a kind of liberation theology before its time if you will.

Anyway the hero if you will of Great Weaver Steinn Ellidi is a young Icelander poet who in the first parts of the book lives a somewhat debauched existence. Even so there is physical attraction and love for the young and much more innocent Dilja who is completely unaware of Steinn's carousings. Steinn goes on a journey for several years staying out of contact with friends and family. A series of epiphanic moments and events however changes the course of Steinn's life. A discussion with a Catholic monk on a train journey about the existence (or not) of God temporarily gets shunted to the back of Steinn's brain but with time and the disastrous direction his life seems to be moving in that conversation begins to obsess him more and more. Feeling at the point of suicide he tracks down the same monk in a monastery in Belgium. In the meantime Dilja--not having heard from Steinn in years marries Steinn's cousin Ornulfur. It is not a happy marraige. Steinn more or less at this point has decided to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ and to enter the Benedictine order. He longs to return to Iceland one last time though and is given permission. Upon his return--he is surprised that Dilja who had made promises to him has in the meantime had married Ornolfur. Not withstanding all the years of his non communication he feels a bit betrayed. His family as well is non-plussed by his reappearance and really don't know what to make of his conversion to Catholicism--odd for an Icelander--in any case they are all respected Lutheran business people who have never taken their religion all that seriously--Dilja as well has been brought up that way. Steinn's confrontational manner and his obsession at bringing his conversion and beliefs into practically every discussion puts a lot of strain into every conversation when he's among them. And meanwhile Dilja despite all that and despite her marraige unhappy as it is--is drawn towards Steinn and in truth Steinn as well is drawn towards Dilja--and so a struggle literally for Steinn's soul takes place between the more secular happiness life with Dilja offers and the spiritual happiness that the church offers. Dilja has no idea what she's up against. She is wrestling with the wind. Thinking about her dilemna a song comes to my mind--a Canadian band Cowboy Junkies--'Misguided angel, hanging over me--Heart like a Gabriel, pure white as ivory--Soul, like a Lucifer--black gold, like a piece of lead--Misguided angel, love you til I'm dead.' It's not that I don't like the character of Steinn--he is likeable but truly Dilja gets my empathy. She does however trick him into bed one time and becomes pregnant and for a short period of time afterwards it seems as if Steinn might if nothing else compromise a bit--not on leaving Catholicism at least the monkish life. He returns to Europe in fact to face his superiors to tell them this new decision but is drawn back to the monastic life and eventually Dilja follows after him and tracks him down but it is over. She has lost the battle.

Steinn in Icelandic apparently means rock--something to keep in mind--Christ's words to Peter--being the rock he would build his church upon. To me the novel borders on greatness. Being brought up as a catholic it's not so much that I'm treading on unfamiliar ground but I do feel like saying I consider myself more of an atheist than a fallen away catholic. I don't however feel any particular antipathy towards this former religion of mine or any other for that matter. I think believing helps a lot of people and can respect that while at the same time hoping they view each other and even non-believers such as myself with at least a tolerant eye and some respect as well. I don't like or elsers. Laxness apparently if the Wikipedia entry of him is correct retained his catholic faith even if he held on as well to his ideas about socialism. Well Miguel de Unamuno once asked about why the monks in Spain hated the anarchists so much replied that more or less the anarchists believed the same things about social justice and the world belonging to all of us but what they didn't believe in was God and over differences like that sometimes like in the Spain of Unamuno's (and also Laxness's) time civil wars are fought. Laxness apparently found his own way to juggle these things. In any case this is an excellent book and I would recommend it though I'd recommend first reading one of Independent people, World Light or Iceland's Bell--all of which are masterpieces IMO. ( )
  lriley | Mar 10, 2009 |
This book didn't cast a spell over me as so many of Laxness' books have. The plot, characterization and descriptions aren't as elegant as his later works. The main character, Steinn, is not a likeable person, nor does he have the fascination and sympathy of Laxness' more developed anti-heroes (such as Bjartur of Summerhouses). Dilja, the other main character and Steinn's love interest, is tepid. The book clearly was written by a very young man: it takes itself too seriously. The sometimes gentle, sometimes raccous sense of humor that is woven through most of Laxness' books isn't evident here.

The plot concerns a young man who is handsome and charismatic, egotistical, possibly brilliant, and entirely selfish. Steinn relates that his most precious gift is that he has been given "an aesthetic soul, the ability to worship the glory on the visage of things." This is an important distinction, for he struggles with seeing the essential rather than the superficial. He exemplifies the opposing natures within man: soul and body, perfection and perdition. The entire novel deals with Steinn's efforts to find, achieve and maintain salvation--at whatever cost to others.

Steinn's family and friends in his native Iceland are introduced, and he then departs for Europe to travel, write, and search for perfection. In a chance encounter on a train, Steinn meets a French monk, Father Alban, who becomes the key to Steinn's self-discovery. Steinn pretends to be interested in learning about Catholicism, but instead simply expounds his own pretentious, shallow ideas to Fr. Alban. Later, as Steinn becomes disillusioned and hopeless, he seeks out Alban, and in desperation asks him for help. Alban serves as a teacher and spiritual guide, and Steinn gradually comes to desire the love and salvation of God. But he vascillates, and falls back into false arguments and self-justifications. Steinn's story becomes tedious as his inability to learn from his mistakes, and his pretentious self-importance wears thin.

Yet the book has some very rewarding passages. The only way I can account for the beautiful eloquence with which Fr. Alban elucidates the love of Christ is to assume that the words spring from a fountain within Laxness himself. Laxness spent time at a monastery in Belgium in his early twenties, and came to embrace Catholicism. Presumably much of Steinn's questioning and discovery mirrors Laxness' own. The passages narrating the religious journey are some of the loveliest explications I have read of God's love, outside of the Bible.

This is where the Weaver from Kashmir proves its worth: it asks the important questions, and attempts to answer them. Where does man's idealism lead, what is our journey, how do we seek perfection, what is the highest value in our life? How do we avoid fooling ourselves that what we want is what is best for us? Does God exist and does he exemplify perfection, does he forgive us and offer us redemption? What should be sacrificed in order to gain salvation?

Finally, another compelling reason I enjoyed this book is because it caused me to ask the following questions about my beloved author, Halldor Laxness. Did his early religious experiences enable him to see how humble all men are, and how we are all beloved in the eyes of God? Did this help forge Laxness' afinity toward people who are downtrodden, imperfect, simple, common...and uncommon? What led to Laxness' own empathy for people who strive for perfection in their own ways, and fail countless times? Is this the beginning of his unusually compassionate portrayal of the beauty and the value in the most imperfect characters that he created?

The Great Weaver from Kashmir has been described as the first major novel of a world-renowned novelist. Why did it take so long for it to be translated into English? Despite the failings of the book, I can't imagine. It is a fascinating glimpse into Laxness' personal life, and into his beginnings as a writer: he wrote it when he was in his early twenties. And it offered me a chance to ask so very many questions, and to enjoy thinking about the answers.

I'll end with a quote from The Weaver that appealed to me:

He became sad with homesickness, like an ancient Icelander. ( )
  darienduke | Jan 1, 2009 |
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Halldór Laxnessautor primaritotes les edicionscalculat
Halldór Laxness,autor principaltotes les edicionsconfirmat
Roughton, PhilipTraductorautor secundarialgunes edicionsconfirmat
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