Tuhlaajapoika

The story awakens on a crisp autumn night in Iceland, where the moon‑silvered fjords and black heath give the landscape a quiet, timeless glow. In the modest capital town, the annual lamb‑shearing day is about to begin, and the scent of sea and stone weaves through narrow streets that stir to life with the ringing of the cathedral bell.

At the centre of this world is Thora Nielsen, a bright‑eyed, fair‑haired girl whose restless spirit borders on mischief. She bursts into the morning house, scolding her stern Aunt Margret for the late wake‑up, while the household buzzes with the preparations for a day that promises both work and an unexpected summons. A local magistrate, Magnush, has selected a young man—Oskar—to accompany her on a task that could draw Thora far beyond the familiar pasturelands, setting the stage for choices that will test her youthful optimism.