Hamarøy

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Hamarøy is perhaps most famous for the village of Hamsund, where the author, Knut Hamsun, "the soul of Norway" (according to former King Håkon VII) grew up in poverty. Apparently his novel "Hunger" was an inspiration for Kafka's work, even if only for being depressing... Hamsun often explores the theme of the perpetual wanderer, so should feel quite at home on this site! Admittedly I have not visited Hamsund in winter so am prepared to concede that it might be a trifle bleak and cold, but in summer the landscape was quite idyllic, as was the school house and the farm on which he was brought up. So, little excuse, other than being Norwegian for his self-pitying writings. Amongst his other idiosyncrasies was his admiration for Nazi Germany and adulation of Goebbels and Hitler, both of whom he met during the war. Unable to admit that the "soul of Norway" was a Nazi, the Norwegians took the expeditious step of declaring him insane to avoid his having to stand trial for treason after the end of WWII!