'As we come nearer to Christmas this wondrous book becomes ever more poignant and magical. Once
read never forgotten' Michael Morpurgo Every winter in the days leading up to Christmas
Benedikt walks into the snowy mountains of Iceland to rescue sheep lost in the blizzards.
With his dog and his ram by his side traversing wild snowstorms and crystalline nights
fuelled by endless cups of hot coffee Benedikt dedicates himself to helping other living
beings in need. It is midwinter in the harshest of landscapes but this is a place of deep
belonging and peace - brutal and remorseless yet irresistible and indispensable. It is also a
time of peace filled with the anticipation of that special time of year - the days before
Christmas: Advent. This enchanting Icelandic classic of one man's selfless quest at Christmas
time has been newly translated into English for the first time in 90 years. 'I've been
preparing for winter by reading Advent ... A beautiful fable-like tale' Sarah Perry Guardian
'Every page is a hymn to Iceland to snow and ice and to winter. It is a true classic in every
sense' Annie Worsley author of Windswept 'A deeply comforting midwinter read' Katherine May
author of Wintering 'Gunnar Gunnarsson's novel is the Icelandic A Christmas Carol' Vanity
Fair TRANSLATED BY PHILIP ROUGHTON
