Summary of Osebol
“Osebol” is a novel about the rural village of Osebol in Central Sweden. The author, Marit Kapla, who grew up in this village, interviewed 42 of its residents – sitting in their kitchens and sipping coffee – and transcribed the conversations into a book that strikes a balance between historical testimony and poetry.
Reasons to read Osebol
“Osebol” is an ode to life in the Swedish countryside. This debut novel by Swedish author Marit Kapla earned her the prestigious August Prize for fiction. It portrays life in a quiet village nestled among Sweden’s pine forests, capturing everyday activities such as eating pea soup, spotting elk, and surviving cancer. The novel paints a compelling picture of how life has changed over the past fifty years for ordinary rural people in Sweden, highlighting the closure of factories, shops, and schools, as well as the arrival of immigrants and urban newcomers. The 800-page length should not deter readers – each testimony stands as a story by itself, speaking directly to the reader.
Location: Osebol, Värmland (Sweden)
Original title: Osebol
Year of publication: 2019
Nr of pages: 800
