
By Johan Bojer
THE GREAT HUNGER
Book I
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
The novel opens on a rugged Norwegian fjord, where a howling northwester tosses boats and shatters the quiet of winter evenings. When the storm subsides, the calm reveals tide‑pools and shining waters that awaken the restless spirit of two teenage boys. They devise a secret deep‑sea line, hoping to catch the big fish the grown‑ups guard for themselves.
Joined by a handful of friends, they launch a rickety boat and set their improvised trap into the green depths, each hoping to earn a share of the bounty. The story captures the fierce hunger of a community bound to the sea, the tension of youthful defiance, and the brutal beauty of the landscape. Listeners are drawn into the salty air, the creaking wood, and the uneasy promise of what the water might surrender.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (393K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Donald Lainson; David Widger
Release date
May 30, 2006
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1872–1959
A widely read Norwegian novelist and dramatist, he wrote vivid stories about ordinary people — especially farmers, fishermen, and emigrants — with warmth, struggle, and dignity at the center. His best-known work, The Last of the Vikings, helped bring coastal Norwegian life to readers far beyond Norway.
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