Arne: A Sketch of Norwegian Country Life

'Arne' is a peasant novel by the Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. The novel's protagonist, Arne Kampen, is the son of the hardworking cotter's daughter Margit and the disorderly master dancer and fiddler Nils Skrædder. Nils is obviously a frustrated artist, an unbalanced man that women are drawn to, deceitful, violent, and increasingly alcoholic. The book is distinguished by its realistic portrayal of mental life: minds that go astray, confinement, communication difficulties, unclear longings, and problems of conscience.