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Stavitelé Mostů (2014)

by Jan Guillou(Favorite Author)
3.86 of 5 Votes: 3
languge
English
publisher
Host
series
Det stora århundradet
review 1: I can recommend this book as a relaxed way to learn about European colonialism in Africa; World War 1; the Europeans' belief in modernity at the beginning of the twentieth century and the building of railways. Guillou has been critisized for his flat female characters, which is also the case in this book. I didn't always find the characters convincing, which is why I rate it with only three stars, but it was an interesting book because of the historical context of the story.
review 2: This week I've been reading a book by the wonderful Swedish author Jan Guillou. I read a Danish translation of the Swedish original "Brobyggarna" (Brobyggerne in Danish, meaning The Bridge Builders). The book was published last year, and there is no English translation yet, but
... moreI assume there will be, as most of his books have been translated.The Bridge Builders is the first book in a new series about the 20th century, and it follows the fate of three Norwegian brothers. They're from a small fishing community near Bergen, northern Norway, and they lose their dad in an accident. By chance, their incredible intelligence and skill for technology is discovered, and the lodge "The Good Purpose" decide to give the best education within engineering in Dresden, Germany. This is done with the understanding that they will return to Norway, to help build the rail road between Oslo and Bergen. However, love gets in the way.This might make it sound like a romance novel, I assure you, it is not. It is a novel about the hopes and the dreams at the turn of the century. About technological advances used for both good and evil. About war, about ideologies and the collapse of societies, which were thought to be eternal.I really enjoyed it, both learning about things I had no idea about - such as the very different, but equally strenuous circumstances of the building of rail roads in Norway and Africa. Imperialism as seen from different perspectives (in this case German against British).If you like historical novels, or are fascinated by technology, or just love learning about other cultures, I greatly recommend it. less
Reviews (see all)
nicki
Fantastisk skildring af 1900-tallet og ingeniørkunsten indenfor jernbanebygning i Norge og Afrika
dorothy
Enjoyable, interesting, and enlightning, but pretty flat when it comes to characters.
nabzilla
Mooi familie-epos vanuit interessant perspectief (Noors)
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