It is he who encourages Alfgrim to become a singer and to search for the one pure note. But, when it is announced that he is to sing, he always seems to disappear at the last moment. Gardar gives him and Gudmundsen’s daughter expensive cakes and even gives Alfgrim his expensive shoes. Alfgrim gets to meet him on his visits and sees how rich, well-dressed and generous he is. When he is rumoured to be visiting his hometown, there is a lot of speculation about him. Gardar Holm has been sponsored by Gudmundsen, the local store owner, in a career as a singer and apparently is having a very successful world-wide career, singing in all the famous venues of the world. The first is Gardar Holm, the son of his foster-mother’s cousin, Kristine, to whom Alfgrim carries milk. He is destined for a career as a fisherman of lumpenfish but a few things change that. They are good foster parents, though he calls them grandparents. She gave birth to Alfgrim – she wanted to call him Alf and Bjorn’s wife wanted to call him Grim so they compromised – and then set off to America, without her son, leaving him in the foster care of Bjorn and his wife, who bring him up. His mother had arrived at Brekkukot, the house of Bjorn of Brekkukot, a man generous with his hospitality. If you have read Heimsljós (World Light), you will be familiar with the style Laxness uses in this book, a sort of childish, mocking satire. Home » Iceland » Halldór Laxness » Brekkukotsannáll (The Fish Can Sing) Halldór Laxness: Brekkukotsannáll (The Fish Can Sing)

Heimsljós by Halldór Laxness