The Old Man and His Sons

These are the Faroe Islands as they were some fifty years ago: sea-washed and remote, with one generation still tied to the sea for sustenance, and a younger generation turning toward commerce and clerical work in the towns.

At the post-hunt whale-meat auction, Ketil enthusiastically bids for more meat than he can afford. Thus when Ketil is seventy, he and his wife struggle to repay their debt.

He in Br (1901-1987), novelist and translator, was considered the most important Faroese writer of his generation and is known for his fresh and ironic style.

About the Author
Heðin Brú (1901-1987) was the penname of Hans Jacob Jacobsen, a Faroese novelist and translator. He is considered the most important Faroese writer of his generation and is known for his fresh and ironic style. Until his untimely death in 1996, John F West was an authority on the Faroe Islands. He wrote and translated extensively on their history and culture, producing ground-breaking work which is still acknowledged today. His translation of The Old Man and His Son was widely regarded as his finest piece of translation.