Son of Fortune

Style and Technique

Herbjørg Wassmo’s style in «Son of Fortune» is marked by subtle psychological insight and poetic richness. The language is restrained yet charged with inner energy, conveying the complex emotional movements of the characters through concise, sometimes almost telegraphic phrases. Wassmo masterfully employs interior monologue, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in the characters’ stream of consciousness, to feel their fears, hopes, and doubts. Images of nature and daily life are woven into the narrative, creating an atmosphere of northern severity and fragile beauty. The author uses symbolism and recurring motifs to emphasize the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of change. The novel’s structure alternates between memories and the present, giving the narrative special depth and layers, while the composition resembles a mosaic in which every detail is essential to understanding the whole. Wassmo avoids excessive expressiveness, preferring expressive restraint, which makes the emotional accents especially poignant and authentic.