Advent
Published on 2. October 2025
Book
Hardback
112 pages
978-1-5299-6307-6 (ISBN)
Description
'As we come nearer to Christmas this wondrous book becomes ever more poignant and magical. Once read never forgotten' Michael Morpurgo
Every winter, in the days leading up to Christmas, Benedikt walks into the snowy mountains of Iceland to rescue sheep lost in the blizzards.
With his dog and his ram by his side, traversing wild snowstorms and crystalline nights, fuelled by endless cups of hot coffee, Benedikt dedicates himself to helping other living beings in need. It is midwinter in the harshest of landscapes, but this is a place of deep belonging and peace - brutal and remorseless yet irresistible and indispensable. It is also a time of peace, filled with the anticipation of that special time of year - the days before Christmas: Advent.
This enchanting Icelandic classic of one man's selfless quest at Christmas time has been newly translated into English for the first time in 90 years.
'I've been preparing for winter by reading Advent... A beautiful, fable-like tale' Sarah Perry, Guardian
'Every page is a hymn to Iceland, to snow and ice and to winter. It is a true classic in every sense' Annie Worsley, author of Windswept
'A deeply comforting midwinter read' Katherine May, author of Wintering
'Gunnar Gunnarsson's novel is the Icelandic A Christmas Carol' Vanity Fair
TRANSLATED BY PHILIP ROUGHTON
Every winter, in the days leading up to Christmas, Benedikt walks into the snowy mountains of Iceland to rescue sheep lost in the blizzards.
With his dog and his ram by his side, traversing wild snowstorms and crystalline nights, fuelled by endless cups of hot coffee, Benedikt dedicates himself to helping other living beings in need. It is midwinter in the harshest of landscapes, but this is a place of deep belonging and peace - brutal and remorseless yet irresistible and indispensable. It is also a time of peace, filled with the anticipation of that special time of year - the days before Christmas: Advent.
This enchanting Icelandic classic of one man's selfless quest at Christmas time has been newly translated into English for the first time in 90 years.
'I've been preparing for winter by reading Advent... A beautiful, fable-like tale' Sarah Perry, Guardian
'Every page is a hymn to Iceland, to snow and ice and to winter. It is a true classic in every sense' Annie Worsley, author of Windswept
'A deeply comforting midwinter read' Katherine May, author of Wintering
'Gunnar Gunnarsson's novel is the Icelandic A Christmas Carol' Vanity Fair
TRANSLATED BY PHILIP ROUGHTON
Reviews / Votes
So skillful - simultaneously light and polished - that Gunnarsson manages to communicate everything without our even noticing. All he does is simply create an atmosphere for us to feel, to inhale - to experience for ourselves -- Jon Kalman Stefansson, author of Fish Have No Feet This beautiful story with its inspirational message is too spontaneously human, too universal in its truth to be capable of being dated... A drama of heroic endurance...for all or any time * New York Times Book Review, 1940 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Dimensions
Height: 201 mm
Width: 134 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
194 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5299-6307-6 (9781529963076)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
10/2025
Vintage Digital
€10.99
Available for download
Persons
Gunnar Gunnarsson (Author)
Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889-1975) grew up on a farm in the Fljotsdalur district of East Iceland and went on to become one of the most popular novelists in Denmark and Germany. His career began with his first novel, Af Borgslaegtens Historie (translated into English as Guest the One-Eyed), which was published by Gyldendal in 1912-1914 and was adapted for cinema in 1919, the first Icelandic writing ever to be made into a film. During the next two and a half decades, Gunnarsson wrote numerous novels, short stories, poems and plays. His books were printed in many countries though his popularity was concentrated in Denmark and Germany. Ships in the Sky made it to sixth place on the New York Times bestseller list in 1938. Advent, also titled The Good Shepherd, is perhaps his most enduring book and is still widely read today.
Philip Roughton (Translator)
Philip Roughton was born in the US and now lives in Iceland. He is an award-winning translator of modern Icelandic literature, having translated works by numerous Icelandic writers, including the Nobel prize-winning author Halldor Laxness.
Gunnar Gunnarsson (1889-1975) grew up on a farm in the Fljotsdalur district of East Iceland and went on to become one of the most popular novelists in Denmark and Germany. His career began with his first novel, Af Borgslaegtens Historie (translated into English as Guest the One-Eyed), which was published by Gyldendal in 1912-1914 and was adapted for cinema in 1919, the first Icelandic writing ever to be made into a film. During the next two and a half decades, Gunnarsson wrote numerous novels, short stories, poems and plays. His books were printed in many countries though his popularity was concentrated in Denmark and Germany. Ships in the Sky made it to sixth place on the New York Times bestseller list in 1938. Advent, also titled The Good Shepherd, is perhaps his most enduring book and is still widely read today.
Philip Roughton (Translator)
Philip Roughton was born in the US and now lives in Iceland. He is an award-winning translator of modern Icelandic literature, having translated works by numerous Icelandic writers, including the Nobel prize-winning author Halldor Laxness.