Shortlisted for the 2014 Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction.
An historical dual-narrative tale set in Iceland in 1829 where three, two women and a man, are sentenced for killing two men. We follow the narrative of the “jealous” woman as she is lodged with a family awaiting execution. Through her conversations with her priest and the family, who has daughters, whose opinions we also follow, we learn the startling truth. The atmosphere, the detail, the morals and beliefs of the period and the raw emotions gently unfolding make for a very fine novel indeed.
Shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award 2013.

In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Burial Rites a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'Burial Rites is a mesmerising piece of historical fiction and one of the best début novels I have ever encountered.' - Nicola Foster Scroll down to read more reviews.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
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In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnusdottir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of her lover. Agnes is sent to wait out her final months on the farm of district office Jon Jonsson, his wife and their two daughters. Horrified to have a convicted murderer in their midst, the family avoid contact with Agnes. Only Toti, the young assistant priest appointed Agnes's spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the year progresses and the hardships of rural life force the household to work side by side, Agnes's story begins to emerge and with it the family's terrible realization that all is not as they had assumed. Based on actual events, Burial Rites is an astonishing and moving novel about the truths we claim to know and the ways in which we interpret what we're told.
Burial Rites features in the following genres: Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Crime and Mystery, Debut Books of the Month, Historical Fiction, Books with reviews by our Reader Review Panel, eBooks of the Month, General Fiction, Fiction, Recommendations
Burial Rites is available in Paperback, Hardback
Burial Rites was written by Hannah Kent and published by Picador an imprint of Pan Macmillan
Burial Rites has 338 pages