A Hundred Years

Historical Context and Significance

The novel «A Hundred Years» by Herbjørg Wassmo is a profound and multilayered chronicle spanning a century in the lives of three generations of women in Norway’s harsh north. Through the heroines’ destinies, the author masterfully weaves the personal into the canvas of national history, allowing the reader to sense the breath of time, social change, and the struggle for the right to be heard. The book became a landmark in Norwegian literature, enriching it with a female voice filled with dignity and pain, and sparked widespread public discussion, inspiring debates about memory, legacy, and the role of women in history. The novel’s influence is felt not only in the literary sphere but also in cultural consciousness, where it has become a symbol of continuity, strength, and the fragility of human life.