num_pages: 234
description: With spare simplicity, Vesaas' novel tells the tale of Mattis, a mentally disabled man cared for by his lonely older sister, Hege. Their routine, isolated existence is interrupted when a lumberjack arrives at their lakeside cottage and falls in love with Hege, leaving Mattis fearful that he will lose his sister. The careful translation from the Norwegian underscores Vesaas's rare sensitivity in recording Mattis's often insightful view of his world. With a limited understanding of the unpredictable power of nature, Mattis nonetheless turns to the elements to discover the answers—with unsettling results.
language: English
title: The Birds
titlecomplete: The Birds
characters: Mattis ("Tusten")
genres: Fiction, European Literature, Roman, Literature, Classics, Novels, 20th Century, Literary Fiction, Modern Classics, Scandinavian Literature
ratings_count: 5301
places: Norway
publisher: Peter Owen Publishers