Growth Of The Soil

"The Growth of the Soil" is the novel by Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun which won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. Stylistically it has a simplicity which reflects its subject matter and there prevails what Worster calls a "Miltonic monumental calm". Hamsun also has the qualities of a Norwegian Steinbeck in his tale of the tragedies and joys of everyday life. There are also 'Bergmanesque' elements in its blacker episodes: the two infanticides; Axel left to die in the snow by the jealous and resentful Brede, whom he has gone out of his way to help and support; and the actions and words of the poisonous, spiteful and grasping Oline. Yet these are relieved by an underlying humour and lightness and all characters seem to have their redeeming features. Tragedy and evil rarely lead to unmitigated disaster, often because of the inner strength and fortitude of the principal characters