Will and Testament by Vigdis Hjorth📖

Summary of Will and Testament 

As a child, Bergljot was sexually abused by her father, while her mother turned a blind eye to her cries for help. As an adult, she has cut off contact with her parents and sisters, who refused to believe her account. Years later, when it becomes clear that her father intends to exclude her and her brother from the inheritance – specifically the family’s summer cabins – Bergljot is unwillingly drawn back into contact with her family, forcing her to confront the trauma of her past.

Reasons to read Will and Testament 

“Will and Testament” is a powerful novel about familial conflict, that touches on inheritance disputes, sexual abuse, victim shaming, and the need for recognition of trauma. The novel received widespread acclaim in Norway and was awarded the Norwegian Critics’ Prize for Literature and the Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize, both in 2016. The book was not without controversy, as its perceived autobiographical overtones led to a public rift within the author’s family. Her sister, Helga Hjorth, published a response novel titled “Free Will”. Other notable works by Norwegian author Vigdis Hjorth include “A House of Norway”, “Long Live the Post Horn!”, “Is Mother Dead?”, and “If Only”.

Setting: Hvaler & Oslo (Norway)

Book set in Norway: The family’s summer cabins are located in Hvaler, a coastal archipelago in southeastern Norway (Østfold County); the rest of the novel likely takes place in Oslo, where Bergljot lives and works.

Original title: Arv og miljø

Year of publication: 2016

Nr of pages: 366