: The novel argues that evil is not a "monotonous being" but exists in various formats—actions, language, and thoughts—across all ages.
: A sophisticated neo-Nazi PhD student whom Agnes becomes "archaeologically" attracted to while researching her thesis. Illska La Maldad Eirikur Orn Norddahl mobi
: It won the 2012 Icelandic Literary Prize for fiction and the Transfuge Award for best Scandinavian fiction in France. : The novel argues that evil is not
The narrative weaves together these contemporary lives with a historical account of the in Jurbarkas, Lithuania. In 1941, half the town's population was murdered; Agnes's ancestors were involved on both sides—one of her great-grandfathers was a victim, while another was a perpetrator. Key Themes and Motifs The narrative weaves together these contemporary lives with
: Critics have called it a "pure masterpiece" and a "beautiful and expansive novel" that masterfully handles difficult political and historical topics.