'Ragnarok' by A.S. Byatt is a retelling of Norse mythology intertwined with the story of a young girl living in WWII-era Britain. The girl, known as the thin child, becomes fascinated with the tales of the Norse gods as she reads a book on Norse mythology given to her by her mother. The book explores the parallels between the mythological Ragnarok and the real-world conflicts of the war, offering a unique perspective on the end of the world as seen through the eyes of a child.
Byatt's writing style in 'Ragnarok' is described as poetic and evocative, with a focus on precise detail and vivid storytelling. The book uses a frame narrative where the thin child's experiences during the war are interwoven with the retelling of Norse myths, creating a compelling blend of fantasy and reality.
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From The Publisher:
In this brilliant retelling of the Norse myth about the end of the world, the award-winning author of Possession and The Children's Book unleashes a story of the destruction of life on this planet and the end of the gods themselves. Just as Wagner used this dramatic and catastrophic struggle for the climax of his Ring Cycle, so A. S. Byatt now reinvents it in all its intensity and glory.
As the bombs of the Blitz rain down on Britain, one young girl is evacuated to the countryside. She is struggling to make sense of her new wartime life. Then she is given a copy of Asgard and the Gods-a book of ancient Norse myths-and her inner and outer worlds are transformed.
How could this child know that fifty years on, many of the birds and flowers she took for granted on her walks to school would become extinct? War, natural disaster, reckless gods, and the recognition of impermanence in the world are just some of the threads that Byatt weaves into this most timely of books. Linguistically stunning and imaginatively abundant, Ragnarök is a landmark piece of storytelling from one of the world's great writers.
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About the Author:
A. S. Byatt is internationally acclaimed as a novelist, short story writer, and critic. Her books include Possession, The Children's Book, and the quartet of The Virgin in the Garden, Still Life, Babel Tower, and A Whistling Woman. She was appointed Dame of the British Empire in 1999.
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