Publisher's synopsis
In northern Iceland, 1829, authorities condemn Agnes Magnusdottir to death for her part in the brutal murder of two men.
Agnes is sent to the farm of District Officer Jon Jonsson and his family to await execution. She is shunned by all, except the young reverend appointed as her spiritual guardian. As the summer months yield to a bitter winter, Agnes’s story begins to emerge. And as her execution draws closer, the question burns more fiercely: did she or didn’t she commit murder?
Based on a true story, Burial Rites is a profoundly moving novel about the ultimate price of freedom and the risks we take for love.
Awards
- Winner for FAW Christina Stead Award 2014
- Winner for Victorian Premier’s Literary Award People’s Choice Award 2014 2014
- Winner for Indie Awards 2014
- Shortlisted for The Stella Prize 2014
- Shortlisted for The Guardian First Book Award 2013
- Shortlisted for National Book Awards 2014
- Winner for Davitt Awards Reader’s Choice 2014
- Winner for Davitt Awards Debut Fiction 2014
- Shortlisted for Voss Literary Award 2014
- Shortlisted for NiB Waverley Award for Literature 2013
- Shortlisted for ALS Gold Medal 2014
- Shortlisted for Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Fiction 2014
- Shortlisted for Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2014
- Winner for ABIA/Booktopia People’s Choice Award 2014
- Winner for SMH Best Young Australian Novelist 2014
- Winner for ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year 2014
- Winner for ABA Nielsen Bookdata Booksellers’ Choice Award 2014
