The Emperor of Portugallia


Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)

(5 stars; 7 reviews)

Selma Lagerlöf was born in Vaermland, Sweden, in 1858 and enjoyed a long and very successful career as a writer, receiving the Nobel-Prize in Literature in 1909. She died in Vaermland in 1940. The Emperor of Portugallia was first Published 1914 in Sweden, and 1916 in English, translated by Velma Swanston Howard. The Story i set in Vaermland around 1860 or 1870. In the centre is Jan of Ruffluck Croft. He loves his daughter more than anything, but when she moves to Stockholm and never sends a word home about her doings, he sinks into a dream-world where she is a noble Empress of Portugallia. And he believes himself to be Emperor too. His whole world and all his thoughts are dominated by the thoughts of her return and what will happen then. In the role of Emperor in the poor forest country where he lives he can question the social hierarchies around him, and dressed in his Royal regalia he sits in the frontbench in the Church, and he takes the place of honour at Parties etc. After 15 years his daughter returns home and is shocked to see what a mad clown her father has become and .... (Summary by Lars Rolander) (7 hr 10 min)

Chapters

01-The Beating Heart - Glory Goldie Sunnycastle 19:28 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
02 - The Christening - The Vaccination Bee 12:40 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
03 - The Birthday - Christmas Morn 15:29 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
04 - Glory Goldie's Illness - Calling on Relatives 13:28 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
05 - The School Examination - The Contest 19:01 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
06 - Fishing 9:35 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
07 - Agrippa - Forbidden Fruit 17:36 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
08 - Lars Gunnarson - The Red Dress 14:23 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
09 - The New Master - On the Mountain-top 17:24 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
10 - The Eve of Departure - At the Pier 12:25 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
11 - The Letter - August Dar Nol 14:45 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
12 - October the First - The Dream Begins 20:23 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
13 - Heirlooms - Clothed in Satin 14:35 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
14 - Stars - Waiting 14:00 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
15 - The Empress - The Emperor 13:18 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
16 - The Emperor's Song - The Seventeenth of August 19:48 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
17 - Katrina and Jan - Bjorn Hindrickson's Funeral 23:05 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
18 - The Dying Heart – Deposed 18:53 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
19 - The Catechetical Meeting 13:36 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
20 - An Old Troll 14:38 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
21 - The Sunday after Midsummer 24:14 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
22 - Summernight - The Emperor's Consort 19:05 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
23 - The Welcome Greeting 15:30 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
24 - The Flight 14:44 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
25 - Held! - Jan's Last Words 19:33 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)
26 - The Passing of Katrina - The Burial of the Emperor 19:20 Read by Lars Rolander (1942-2016)

Reviews

The Emperor of Portugallia


(5 stars)

The sparseness of the prose reflects the bleak Scandinavian setting in this gripping story of a life changed utterly by love. But that sounds depressing which, ultimately, this book is not. The author does a brilliant job of showing us the wisdom that sometimes resides in what the world calls delusion. All in all, one of the best books I've heard in a long time. Lars Rolander's slow pacing, mature voice, and interesting diction is a real treat and is perfectly suited to this piece. Tack sa mycket, Lars! More please. TheBookworm (Manchester, UK)