It is three weeks since the boy came to town, carrying a book of poetry to return to the old sea captain - the poetry that did for his friend Bardur. Three weeks, but already Bardur's ghost has faded. Snow falls so heavily that it binds heaven and earth together. As the villagers gather in the inn to drink schnapps and coffee while the boy reads to them from Shakespeare's Hamlet, Jens the postman stumbles in half dead, having almost frozen to his horse. On his next journey to the wide open fjords he is accompanied by the boy, and both must risk their lives for each other, and for an unusual item of mail. The Sorrow of Angels is a timeless literary masterpiece; in extraordinarily powerful language it brings the struggle between man and nature tangibly to life. It is the second novel in Stefansson's epic and elemental trilogy, though all can be read independently.

'Moving - linguistically and stylistically masterful' Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *
'Captivating ... the author eloquently harnesses an overwhelming sense of enormity and vastness ... this is a story of life, love and those left behind. It is a tale punctuated by the stark spectrum of human foibles, but equally one of strength, victory and selflessness in the face of adversity. The dizzying climax will leave you breathless' Susan Swarbrick, Glasgow Herald. * Glasgow Herald *
'Rarely have I read such a moving and grim account of the art of catching stars - outstanding' Weekendavisen. * Weekendavisen *
'A spellbinding novel, beautifully written in a lyrical, poetic style' Jacqui Patience, Shadow Independent Foreign Fiction Prize judge. * Jacqui Patience, Shadow Independent Foreign Fiction Prize judge *
'A wonderful, exceptional writer ... a timeless storyteller' Carsten Jensen. * Carsten Jensen *
'Recalls a Nordic version of one of Cormac McCarthy's journeys ... Devour this book with a hot drink in a warm room' Boyd Tonkin, Independent. * Independent *
'Stefansson is an utterly unique writer' Dagbladet. * Dagbladet *

J n Kalman Stef nsson was born in Reykjavik in 1963. His novels have been nominated three times for the Nordic Council Prize for Literature (2001, 2004, 2007) and his novel Summer Light, and then Comes the Night received the Icelandic Prize for Literature in 2005. He is the recipient of the annual P.O. Enquist Award, which is bestowed on young writers who are beginning to make a significant impact on the European literary scene.