Product Description
Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1858-1940) war eine schwedische Schriftstellerin. Sie ist eine der bekanntesten Schriftstellerinnen des Landes und gehört zu den wenigen schwedischen Autoren, deren Werke zur Weltliteratur zählen. Von 1882 bis 1885 machte Selma Lagerlöf eine Ausbildung zur Volksschullehrerin am Königlichen Höheren Lehrerinnenseminar in Stockholm. Bis 1896 unternahm sie eine große Reise durch Südeuropa. 1906 schrieb Selma Lagerlöf ihr bekanntestes Buch Die Wunderbare Reise des Kleinen Nils Holgersson mit den Wildgänsen. 1907 wurde Selma Lagerlöf die Ehrendoktorwürde der Philosophie von der Universität Uppsala verliehen. Als erste Frau erhielt sie 1909 den Nobelpreis für Literatur und wurde 1914 zum ersten weiblichen Mitglied der Schwedischen Akademie gewählt. Sie engagierte sich insbesondere in Frauenfragen. So beteiligte sich Selma Lagerlöf 1933 an einem Komitee zur Rettung jüdischer Flüchtlinge aus Deutschland. Weitere Werke der Autorin sind u. a.: Jerusalem (1902/03), Der Fuhrmann des Todes (1912), Der Kaiser von Portugallien (1914), Der Ring des Generals (1925), Aus meinen Kindertagen (1930) und Herbst (1933). ... Read more

Product Description
Unabiding passion is the theme running through this collectionof short stories.Lagerlof's characrters share spiritual and deeplyhuman longings. They long for love, for inspiration, for release frompsychological torment-ultimately they seek an image of truth. Somefind this vision only in death. Others lack courage and flee fromtheir visions, becoming strangers in the worlds of their ownmaking. Social relations are difficult, thorny. But in crucial momentsof transformation, true selves come out of hiding-or they are taken bystorm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Short Stories of the Swedish People
Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) is one of the most well-known literary figures to have come out of Sweden, particularly after she became the first woman to receive the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909. As an avid supporter of causes such as women's rights and world peace, her thoughts and concerns are equally valid today.

Invisible Links is the first in a series of reprints of Selma Lagerlöf's works from Penfield Press. This collection of Lagerlöf's earlier short stories depicts the Swedish people, their lives and struggles, through glimpses into their souls. This updated edition is an abridged version of Pauline Bancroft Flach's 1899 translation, except "The Epitaph," that was included in the Swedish collection and translated by Jessie Brochner.

Selma Lagerlöf's storytelling includes elements of folk legends, fairy tales, and dreams. There are avenging ghosts and ghosts with good advice; there are tragic and happy endings. Her wise, compassionate voice narrates tales that are both dramatic and perplexing.

There are lighter stories. "Uncle Reuben" is a comic fable about the use of family legends to keep children in line. "Downie" is a love story set in springtime. And "Among the Climbing Roses" is about the insect friends to be found in the summer garden. Lively and intimate observations of the natural world are woven through all the stories, lending them an authentic beauty.

Lagerlöf explores the boundaries between illusion and reality, good and evil, the forces of life and destruction. Her stories do not come up with easy answers. What is certain is that the meanings human beings create, the links-or fetters-connecting them with the world, are nothing less than sacred. In Lagerlöf's fiction, this conviction becomes the lifeblood of the storyteller and reader alike. ... Read more

Product Description
Selma Lagerlöf’s classic storytelling draws vividly onthe colorful history and landscape of the Holy Land, from the time ofJesus to the Crusades. From the surly shepherd of Bethlehem to thewar-hardened soldier at Herod’s feast; from the unhappy suppliants inthe Temple to the cruel Emperor Tiberius, the human drama and divinemystery of the events of Christ’s life are woven together in visionarytales.

Previously published as "Christ Legends and Other Stories." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Wonderful Stories
I was very happy to see that this book was available again. Mine has become so worn out over the years.

Selma Lagerlof is an incredible author, this particular book is full of beautiful and spiritual imagery. The stories are delicate and heart wrenching, they are truly uplifting.

I have been told that they are read by many families in Sweden during the Christmas Season, so they quickly become a tradition. The book begins with the First Christmas then leads into Easter and finally the Crusades. My Favorites are, Bethlehem's Children and the Sacred Flame, but they are all wonderful stories.

With Harry Potter all over the place it's nice to take a break with a book that is heartfelt and extremely thoughtful.

These are not the typical saccharine type bible stories, they are truly inspired. The qualities within the stories are about patience and sacrifice, destiny and fate, they are also heroic in nature so may frighten the little ones. Ages seven though Adult should enjoy listening to them. The copy I have is titled, Christ Legends. The Translation is by Howard with Illustrations by Clere. The stories were written in 1908. (272 pg.)

The Book Includes: The Holy Night - The Emperor's Vision - The Wise Men's Will - Bethlehem's Children - The Flight into Egypt - In Nazareth - In the Temple - Saint Veronica's Kerchief - Robin Redbreast - Our Lord and Saint Peter and the Sacred Flame. ... Read more

Product Description
By the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, an historical tale set in eighteenth century Sweden, in which the action is dominated by a mysterious ring which seems to blight the lives of those who own it. It is a disturbing saga of superstition and the supernatural, of revenge from beyond the grave, and in many ways, is a forerunner of modern feminist writing. A rather exotic ghost story."" - Publishers Weekly. ""[An] immensely sensitive translation, which achieves both the deceptive simplicity and the reverberating dimensions of Lagerlöf's text."" - Swedish Book Review. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Teenager's Fairy Tale
This is the first book I have read by the Nobel Prize-winning author, Selma Lagerlof.I found the book to be very easy and enjoyable reading and I look forward to reading more by this author.The problem for me with "The Lowenskold Ring" (a/k/a "The General's Ring") is that it was too brief.The author was able to mix some of the folk culture of rural Sweden of roughly 150 years ago with some morality lessons.The morality lessons tended to deal with greed, pride, and loyalty and they were well enough presented.However, I had the feeling that author squandered an opportunity to say more.Like a journey in which the main character encounters many different types of people, "Lowenskold's Ring" could have been a vehicle to give us several more personalities and issues to confront.

I also felt that the language of the author was written for either a younger or less enlightened audience.I can see where the author would do well with children's stories.However, I will end by saying that the book served as an enjoyable activity for the hour or so that it took to read.

Simple and interesting
A Swedish fairy with layers of creativity.A simple and interesting middle-age fantasy story about a ring that inflicts evil upon it's holder until it is restored to it's proper owner.A closer look reveals deeper questions about loyalty, appearances, and morality.

Selma Lagerlof's elegant simplicity
Not many people read Selma Lagerlof any more, which is a pity - she won the Nobel Prize, after all.And if you read the "Ring" you'll understand why.Most of her books are aimed at least ostensibly atchildren; the "Ring" is one of her "adult" books, butlike the children's books it has the same artless simplicity and uninvolvedcharacter of a fairy tale about it.The story at least initially is a sortof picaresque tale built around an old general's ring, but the center ofattention keeps shifting as you read on. One episode effortlessly developsinto another, and fifty pages later you realize how it all holds together,but it is so simple and delightful that you don't notice how far afield thestory has taken you.A real gem. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Fiction / Literary; Fiction / General; Fiction / General; Fiction / Classics; Fiction / Fantasy / General; Fiction / Literary; Fiction / Romance / General; Literary Collections / American / General; Literary Criticism / American / General; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

the treasure
We read this for bookclub & saw the film Sir Arne's Treasure together. It is a great short read. In true norse folktale tradition. ... Read more

Product Description
A beautiful novela and some of Lagerlf's best tales, many with a Gothic edge. The memorable story, Legend of the Christmas Rose, shows her sympathy with the dispossessed. ... Read more