"Nothing is so necessary for a young man as the company of intelligent women."
~Tolstoy, War and Peace

A favorite of Soviet literature. A perfect example of the era, and a masterpiece of literature.

A difficult and satisfying read. Though, sadly, underappreciated and little known. Many have heard of Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter, but few know about the Hestviken tetralogy. Which follows a youth of unassuming birth through a life of profound loss and love mirroring gently the tumult of the times in which he grew from an unremarkable boy to a tremendous if complicated man. I'm long overdue for a re-read...

There are altogether not enough people with whom I can endlessly examine the little gems in this beautiful book.

"The trouble with modern education is you never know how ignorant people are. With anyone over fifty you can be fairly confident what's been taught and what's been left out. But these young people have such an intelligent, knowledgeable surface, and then the crust suddenly breaks and you look down into depths of confusion you didn't know existed." - Evelyn Waugh

A vastly important book to me. Formative and profound. Richly told and yet ascetically delivered. Beautiful. Among my favorite books.

An extraordinary book. Unique and relentlessly challenging while also softening the sharp edges of anguish and tragedy with a certain medieval whimsy.