Franzobel takes the reader: an adventure about Greenland's forgotten heroes

Franzobel takes the reader: an adventure about Greenland's forgotten heroes

Author Franzobel surprises with his new historical novel "Hundred Words for Snow", which will be released on February 18. In this gripping work, he interweaves the stories of Minik, an Inuit from Northern Greenland, and the American explorer Robert Peary. Minik lived in 1897 when he was shipped to New York together with his family to be presented there as an exotic exhibit. Franzobel has dealt in detail with Minik's fate, supported by historical sources, and describes the disrespectful circumstances that brought this young man to leave his homeland, as reported on Kurier .

Greenland's rough heir

The inspiration for the history found Franzobel on a research trip to Greenland in the summer of 2023, where, surrounded by the untouched nature and cultural traditions of the Inuit, he collected many impressions. This trip was not an easy task for him, because Greenland is anything but a tourist attraction. Franzobel describes the challenges of the journey and represents the traditional ways of life of the Greenlanders, which are characterized by hunting and dealing with sled dogs. At the same time, he addresses the shocking cultural misunderstandings between the locals and the western visitors, who often make fun of the way of life of the InUit, as also in OE24.at can be read.

The novel also reflects the race for the North Pole and the dark shadows of the colonial past, with Peary being represented as a "thief and on the feet of the feet", which abuses the treasures of the Inuit for his fame. In addition, the story is enriched with a sharp view of the social norms and the influence of the cultural pioneers of the time. Franzobel's work combines historical depth with a sharp observation and raises questions about identity and respect for indigenous cultures.