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Shortlisted for the Stella Prize 2014 and Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2014

In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnusdottir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men.

Agnes is sent to wait on the farm of District Officer Jon Jonsson and his family, who are horrified and avoid Agnes. Only Toti, the young assistant reverend appointed as Agnes's spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the summer months fall away to winter, Agnes's story begins to emerge. And as the days to her execution draw closer, the question burns: did she or didn't she?

Based on a true story, Burial Rites is a deeply moving novel about freedom and the ways we will risk everything for love. In beautiful, cut-glass prose, Hannah Kent portrays Iceland's formidable landscape, and asks: how can one woman endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others?

And, for more information, here is a video in which Hannah Kent answers some frequently asked questions about her first novel, Burial Rites (2013).

Book Information

  • ISBN: 9781743516966
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pub Date: 01/03/2014
  • Category: Fiction & related items / Historical fiction
    Fiction & related items / Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)
  • Imprint: Picador Australia
  • Pages: 352
  • Price: $22.99

Shortlisted for the Stella Prize 2014 and Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2014

In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnusdottir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men.

Agnes is sent to wait on the farm of District Officer Jon Jonsson and his family, who are horrified and avoid Agnes. Only Toti, the young assistant reverend appointed as Agnes's spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the summer months fall away to winter, Agnes's story begins to emerge. And as the days to her execution draw closer, the question burns: did she or didn't she?

Based on a true story, Burial Rites is a deeply moving novel about freedom and the ways we will risk everything for love. In beautiful, cut-glass prose, Hannah Kent portrays Iceland's formidable landscape, and asks: how can one woman endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others?

And, for more information, here is a video in which Hannah Kent answers some frequently asked questions about her first novel, Burial Rites (2013).

Awards

Short-listed for The Stella Prize 2014Short-listed for The Stella Prize 2014.

Short-listed for The Guardian First Book Award 2013Short-listed for The Guardian First Book Award 2013.

Winner for Indie Awards 2014Winner for Indie Awards 2014.

Winner for Victorian Premier's Literary Award People's Choice Award 2014 2014Winner for Victorian Premier's Literary Award People's Choice Award 2014 2014.

Winner for FAW Christina Stead Award 2014Winner for FAW Christina Stead Award 2014.

Winner for ABA Nielsen Bookdata Booksellers' Choice Award 2014Winner for ABA Nielsen Bookdata Booksellers' Choice Award 2014.

Winner for ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year 2014Winner for ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year 2014.

Winner for SMH Best Young Australian Novelist 2014Winner for SMH Best Young Australian Novelist 2014.

Winner for ABIA/Booktopia People's Choice Award 2014Winner for ABIA/Booktopia People's Choice Award 2014.

Short-listed for Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2014Short-listed for Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 2014.

Short-listed for Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Fiction 2014Short-listed for Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Fiction 2014.

Short-listed for ALS Gold Medal 2014Short-listed for ALS Gold Medal 2014.

Short-listed for NiB Waverley Award for Literature 2013Short-listed for NiB Waverley Award for Literature 2013.

Short-listed for Voss Literary Award 2014Short-listed for Voss Literary Award 2014.

Winner for Davitt Awards Debut Fiction 2014Winner for Davitt Awards Debut Fiction 2014.

Winner for Davitt Awards Reader's Choice 2014Winner for Davitt Awards Reader's Choice 2014.

Short-listed for National Book Awards 2014Short-listed for National Book Awards 2014.

Author Information

Hannah Kent's first novel, the multi award winning international bestseller, Burial Rites, was translated into over 30 languages and is being adapted for film. Her second novel, The Good People was translated into 10 languages, nominated for numerous awards and is also being adapted for film. Devotion, her third novel, published in 2021, won Booktopia's Favourite Australian Book, and was shortlisted for multiple industry awards. Her original feature film, Run Rabbit Run, was directed by Daina Reid and starred Sarah Snook. Hannah is also the co-founder of Kill Your Darlings, and has written for The New York Times, The Saturday Paper, The Guardian, the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, Meanjin, Qantas Magazine and LitHub. She lives and works on Peramangk and Kaurna country.

Media

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