Das Haus meiner Väter

At the age of eighteen, Joern Riel set off for Greenland for the first time. He lived there for sixteen years, as a researcher and adventurer completely on his own, in the inhospitable northeast. When loneliness threatened to overwhelm him, he began to tell stories to his companions, despite never having thought about literature before. Joern Riel weaves his novels like sailor's yarn. They are as true as the incredible tales told by trappers, hunters, and fishermen—adventurers, outcasts, and escapees—during the eternal winter nights to avoid drowning in solitude. When they come together from their cabins, which are days' journey apart, days pass before a word is spoken. Suddenly, they begin to tell stories. At first, the story is simple, then it starts to grow and grow. Often, it only comes to an end when the bottles are empty.