«Described as «a masterpiece of social commentary as relevant today as when it was written in 1948». Some readers may be hard-put to feel this about Halldór Laxness's portrait of postwar Reykjavik, a hotbed of hustlers, nouveaux riches and communists in the first flush of idealism. But overtures by «the Yanks» to build an atomic power station in Iceland eerily pre-echo the imperialist adventures of today's solitary superpower...» (The Guardian.com, June 2003 review)

«When the Americans make an offer to buy Icelandic land to build an atomic war base, a storm of protest is provoked throughout the country and it is here that Laxness finds the catalyst for his story. Told by a country girl from the north, the novel follows her experiences upon taking up employment as a maid in the house of her Member of Parliament. She finds herself in a world very different to that of her upbringing and, marvelling at the customs and behaviour of the people around her, she emerges as the one obstinate reality in a world of fantasy. Her observations and experiences expose the intellectual society of the south as rootless and shallow and in stark contrast to the ancient culture of the solid and less fanciful north. The colourful, yet at times dark, cast of characters whom she meets personify the southern fantasy world. In this black comedy, Laxness has painted a masterpiece of social commentary as relevant today as when it was first written in 1948.» - Goodreads