The Northeast Passage

Spain during the civil war. Democracy is losing its foothold. At the last minute two boys from the losing side are evacuated. One of them winds up in the Soviet Republic, the other in Mexico. Although they share the same starting point, their lives follow totally different paths. One leads through Russia to Siberia and down the Yenisei River to Norilsk at the edge of the frozen sea. The other leads in between Mexico’s snow-clad volcanoes. Where are those two boys today, years later? Who is the narrator, and what does he know of the society we will wake up to tomorrow? The Northeast Passage is a novel about life paths, seaways and escapes across new waters when the ice melts and the ideological climate shifts. And are we supposed to envision imaginary creatures from the past when we hear hooves thundering across the plains?

From one of the most important and influential Norwegian writers today.

Quotes from reviews:

"This is a unique novel that is going to be loved and hated, subjected to harsh criticism and praised to the skies."Steinar Sivertsen, Stavanger Aftenblad

"Fløgstad fascinates again!" "This is fascinating reading. We can safely say that Fløgstad is adding new colour to History (with a capital H)."Knut Hoem, NRK

"Fløgstad stands out today as a more relevant author than ever. In his new novel, he explores global changes in our near future."Frode Helmich Pedersen, Bergens Tidende

"… absolutely exciting, informative and extremely entertaining. “Typical Fløgstad,” you might say. It is a stamp of quality."Gerd Elin Stava Sandve, Dagsavisen

"Fløgstad manages the feat of making it seem, when the reader puts this book down having become accustomed to the novel, that it is the real world that is absurd. And so you have to start afresh."Bjørn Gabrielsen, Dagens Næringsliv

"I have rarely read such juxtapositions between deep, dark melancholy and cascades of satire as in The Northeast Passage."Tom Egil Hverven, Klassekampen

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