“Feats on the Fjords” by Harriet Martineau

MARTINEAU, Harriet. Feats on the Fjord. With Illustrations by Arthur Rackham Coloured by W. Cubitt Cooke. London: J. M. Dent & Sons Limited, [c.1914] Square octavo. Original blue cloth, ornate gilt design and titles to spine and front cover gilt, colour illustration plate mounted on front cover, plain coated endpapers, top edge blue. Coloured frontispiece and 7 other colour plates by Arthur Rackham. Coloured by W. Cubitt Cooke  . An excellent copy in the blue cloth binding.

A classic tale of Norway. The story of Erica, a girl who believes in water sprites, wood demons and the spirit of the wind, Nipen. These beliefs are presented as figments of her imagination, yet real fears she has. Through her suffering, real and imagined, and the adventures of her friend, Rolf, it is a joy to watch her mature into wisdom. Employs colourful characters, from old, blind Peder and his wife Ulla to the young rambunctious Oddo. Set in the sweeping northern landscape of Norway, especially the "seater", where the Norse drive their cattle each spring to feed upon the mountain wildflowers, to make a particular cheese. Equally appealing for the bravery of the men in daring rescues, fighting pirates, being stranded on an island and caring for the farm as Erica must overcome her fears and hardships.