The Story of Gosta Berling – Selma Lagerlof (1910)

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

The Story of Gosta Berling – Selma Lagerlof (1910):
$19.95

This classic of Swedish literature, and the basis for GretaGarbo\'s most famous pre-Hollywood film, directed by Mauritz Stiller in 1924,tells tales from the southern Swedish province of Varmland. Author SelmaLagerlof was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. This1910 edition was translated from the Swedish by Pauline Bancroft Flach,supplemented by 29 full-page black-and-white illustrations by Georg Pauli.

“The Story of Gösta Berling\" was published first in Sweden in1894 and immediately brought its author into prominence. It has been called the “prose epic ofSwedish country life.” The scene is laid on the shores of Lake Fryken (Lake Löven in the story) in Värmland in theearly 19th century. Using wolves, snow, supernatural elements andeccentric upper-class characters to project an exotic image of 1820s Värmland, the novelcan be compared to magicrealism.

The tales are founded on actual occurrences. Lagerlof grewup in the midst of the wild legends of her country, and, deeply imbued withtheir spirit, interprets them with a living force all her own.

This 473-page book, without dustjacket, was published in1910 by Little, Brown and Company. It’s in good condition overall, with cleanpages, intact binding, and corners and spine edges that show mild wear andbumping. The gilt cover and spine imprints are clear, but lightly faded. Thecoverboard has a few stains, particularly on the back cover and the lower edgeof the spine. A previous owner’s inscription is on the inside front endpaper,along with a small pasted newspaper clipping from 1940 that announced theauthor’s death. The tissue overlay for the frontispiece illustration is loose,with some light spots of “foxing” on some text pages.

Shipping includes U.S. Postal Service tracking service.(U.S. Postal Service Media Mail offers reasonably timely shipping at verycost-efficient rates, but delivery times may vary. If delivery is desired in aspecific time frame, other shipping alternatives are available to buyers upontheir request.)