What I know about Knut Hamsun could be written on the back of a Norwegian postage stamp, but somehow or other, he has been lurking on the edge of my reading consciousness for years and years, he is an author I have come across, looked at, put down with the thought he is always there and I can come back to him sooner or later.
Well, the lovely delightful James at Souvenir Press had sent me some other books and asked if there was 
anything else I wanted to try and there, lo and behold, was Knut Hamsun saying Read Me Read Me and really it was about time. So the lovely delightful James at Souvenir Press heard my plea and duly popped it in the post to me and I have read it. At last. Delighted I did. Never too late.
Simon over on Stuck in a Book asked 'Elaine will I like this?' answer - Yes.
In bald terms this is the story: Miller's son falls in love with Victoria, well above his station. He has loved her all his life, ever since they were children together. They grow up, realise they love each other, both know it is useless, so off he goes becomes a famous poet and writer and returns to meet Victoria again. He still loves her but not so sure that she loves him. She treats him disdainfully. She engages herself to a particularly obnoxious fellow so off goes the Miller's son and engages himself to sweet young thing who he think will do as a wife. Obnoxious fellow is then killed while out shooting, Victoria admits to Miller's son that she loves him, too late he cries I am engaged to somebody else, she is left alone as her father commits suicide and burns the family home down as the Obnoxious fellow's money was to stop them being bankrupt and heartbroke and lonely Victoria dies. Sweet Young Thing then finds she loves somebody else too and Miller's son is left all alone.
OK now that sounds totally and utterly dire and dreadful and full of Scandinavian darkness and angst with background music by Sibelius (yes I know he is Finnish and not Norwegian don't quibble - he is SCANDINAVIAN anyway and his music is so melancholy and gorgeous it suits this story beautifully) and you might think Give me a Break I am not going to read that, but you would be missing a wonderful experience if you did not.
It is difficult to find words to describe this writing without sounding like a pretentious Guardianista book reviewer and I usually try to avoid using 'elegiac', 'elusive' 'evocative' but there is no way I cannot use these three words in an attempt to explain how I felt when reading Victoria.
Johannes, the Miller's Son is a true, steadfast, golden character who never sways in his love for Victoria. He becomes engaged in an attempt to try and finally forget her and then the cruel irony of the death of her fiance and her freedom to admit her love for him, is bitter. He is honourable however and will not disengage himself even though ultimately he is left alone when Camilla realises she does not love him enough.
This is a story of true love, the kind of love that when it strikes, is unavoidable. There is nothing that Victoria and Johannes can do about the strength and depth of their feelings for each other, they know they can never marry because of the difference in their respective places in society, it will cause a scandal, and they suffer dreadfully over the years. Victoria's death may seem somewhat bathetic, but really it is the only logical ending, they were meant to be doomed lovers, the idea of them living happily ever after just doesn't seem right. That is not exactly an elegant phrase but I can't think of another way of expressing my thoughts.
The final pages of the novel are given up to a letter written by Victoria to Johannes when she knows she is dying. I had recourse to the Kleenex when reading this I can tell you.
"I have been lying here in bed thinking about the last words I spoke to you. I never thought they would be my last words or I would have said goodbye then......I shall never see you again and I'm sorry now that I didn't throw myself at your feet and kiss your shoe and the ground you trod on, to show far beyond words how much I love you....it is strange to think dear Johannes, that all I've ever managed to do is to come into the world and love you and now say goodbye to life.....my life is so unlived, I've never done anything to help anybody and now this wasted life is at an end....Johannes, my dear, the only one I have loved on this earth, come to be now and be here for a little while when it begins to grow dark. I shan't weep then, but smile as well as I can from sheer joy at your coming."
and finally
"I've loved you, loved only you all my life. It's Victoria who is writing this and God is watching over my shoulder. I must bid you farewell, it's almost dark. When I fly away from the earth I shall go on thanking you right to the end and saying your name to myself all the way........Goodbye my beloved"
You can see why I was a bit flippant when I started writing about this, if I hadn't I would have been awash again by now. Please read this simply lovely book. I have had such a good week with reading this week, The Voyage by Adele Geras and now this.
Lovely delightful James at Souvenir Press - bless you.
Helen's behalf quite daunting and hope she likes my choice. Red roses for the bride with berries and greenery, as it is in December, and cream roses for the chief bridesmaid, Kathryn, my other daughter, as she is wearing a deep red dress and for Eleonor, the two year old bridesmaid, a little basket with red roses. Champagne coloured ribbons to be used to match the sash on The Dress. Red Roses for the buttonholes. So it is all done and sorted. Donna, who owns Florum, was delightful and her assistant too, whose name I do not know, and we all had a laugh and a good time. Adding to it all was Willow, a very old lady of a Spaniel curled up in her basket at the back of the counter who had beautiful soulful brown eyes and I could not resist a pat and a stroke. 
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