Nema puta naokolo : roman iz života u Norveškoj 1816-1830
There's No Way Around (1935) is the final part of the famous Bjørndal trilogy (which also includes the novels And the Forests Sing Forever and The Wind from the Mountain), but it forms a completely separate entity. In the work, Guldbrannsen weaves a story
Set between 1816 and 1830, the novel follows the final days of Dag Bjørndal, an old patriarch whose life is marked by struggles, pride, and deep regret for past sins.
Dag, once the strong and unwavering lord of the Bjørndal estate, is now an old man whose thoughts wander through memories of his turbulent youth and the conflicts that shaped his family. Standing on the threshold of death, in the church he sees as a divine refuge, Dag confronts his own mortality and struggles to come to terms with the past.
The novel explores his relationships with his family and community, especially with Adelheid, whose unrequited love and attempts to fit into Bjørndal’s rigid world bring added emotional weight. Through fragmented narrative, Gulbranssen brings to life the Norwegian landscapes and the spirit of the freedom-loving, honest highlanders, whose lives reflect a universal struggle for meaning and forgiveness.
With its strong national romanticism and the dialect of Eastern Norway, No Way Around celebrates simplicity, courage and patriarchal values, while questioning the inevitability of fate. This is a moving story of humanity, which remains timeless for its emotional depth and authentic portrayal of the Norwegian spirit.
One copy is available
