Stories by Foreign Authors: Scandinavian

In a quiet Norwegian parish, Thord Overaas commands respect as the wealthiest farmer around. He visits the priest repeatedly—first for his newborn son Finn’s baptism, then for his confirmation, and later to arrange Finn’s marriage to the well‑off Karen Storliden. Each meeting is marked by Thord’s meticulous attention to ceremony and a subtle pride in his family’s standing, while the priest watches the man’s calm exterior with quiet curiosity.

The story takes a sudden, heartbreaking turn when a simple rowing trip across the lake ends in tragedy: Finn slips, drowns, and his body disappears beneath the water. Thord, driven by a desperate hope, rows the lake day after day, refusing food or rest, until he finally pulls his son’s lifeless form from the depths. The episode exposes the fragile line between wealth and grief, and leaves listeners wondering how a man so sure of his place will cope with loss.