An independent sequel to the award-winning and much-praised Karitas – Untitled.
Set in Iceland, Paris and New York, this vivid portrait of a gifted female artist spans five decades, an extraordinary range of emotions and paints a compelling image of her life and the sacrifices she must make to be able to pursue her art.
The author skillfully unravels the destiny of the artist through the process of creation, her relationship with her family and friends, solitude, betrayal, success, unbearable sorrow and great passion.
Memorable characters make their appearance in this powerful and moving story, brimming with life and humanity.
- The Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize, 2008
R E V I E W S
“Let it be said at once, Baldursdottir’s novel about the fate of women at the beginning of the 20th century is magnificent.”
POLITIKEN, DENMARK
“Chaos on Canvas by Kristin Marja Baldursdottir is a sequel to her book Karitas – Untitled, which was published in 2004. I am one of those women who were utterly captivated by that book. When I heard of the forthcoming publication of Chaos on Canvas, I was filled with anticipation, but also a little apprehensive. How would the author manage the sequel; what would happen to Karitas? Is it possible to do better than that masterpiece? Or even equal it?
As with the author’s other books, I was plunged into the book before I knew it. Kristin Marja has a remarkable talent for storytelling, which simply pulls in the reader with its magnetic power.
Chaos on Canvas is an especially well-written book, and incredibly compelling – I found myself quite captivated by it. With her books about the artist Karitas, Kristin Marja Baldursdottir has established her place among the very best of contemporary writers.”
HALLFRIDUR THORARINSDOTTIR, KISTAN.IS
“One weeps with her in her joy, when she sees the works of genius she had so longed to see, and which love and the children had prevented her from seeing when she needed it most…
There is a large cast of characters, but well within the powers of such a genius as Kristin Marja. She never loses control as a narrator – and I have yet to mention the most enchanting part of this enchanting book: Karitas’s works of art. Karitas is her author’s creation, although her paintings are as real as can be, in view of the fact that they consist only of words. But the descriptions recall so many outstanding women artists, both from Iceland and elsewhere. Here they are celebrated in a single common denominator who will be renowned around the world – as Karitas was in her story.”
SILJA ADALSTEINSDOTTIR, TMM
“The story is both funny and dramatic, with touches of superb irony which create a successful polyphony within the text.”
ULFHILDUR DAGSDOTTIR, BOKMENNTIR.IS
“Baldursdottir deserves a lot of praise for her skilful narration of this poignant tale.”
MORGUNBLADID
“The nation’s most popular author… This is a big and ambitious work… the story of the fate of a woman, which also reflects the events of the time…a monumental tale of destiny.”
EGILL HELGASON, KILJAN, NATION TV
“This is very much a story of women… about strong, independent women… the characters are vibrant with life, clearly representatives of diverse values and social groups, yet neither black-and-white nor clichéd… The dialogues are very well written, the style vivid and unforced… we are left with questions about whether freedom was bought at too high a price, whether love is the most important thing in life, and whether women must always choose between duty and creativity… Chaos on Canvas is an expansive and enormously enjoyable portrayal of human life, a powerful story of society and women’s liberation in Iceland, while also being the story of every exhausted washerwoman in the world.”
STEINUNN INGA OTTARSDOTTIR, MORGUNBLADID
“Great drama… hits the spot… the description of the role of motherhood is very strongly made… the author considers compelling questions on the oppression of women… consciously a women’s story, with everything that entails.”
AUDUR ADALSTEINSDOTTIR, VIDSJA, NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE
