Bad translations, his similarity to Dickens and Lawrence, and his support for Nazism in his native Norway are among the reasons suggested to explain why Hamsun (1859-1952) has never been popular in English speaking countries, says Lyngstad (emeritus English, New Jersey Institute of Technology). Despite its conservative and even reactionary ideas and attitudes, he finds the work interesting enough not to dismiss out of hand. He concentrates on the novels, making reference to the poetry, plays, and story stories only when they cast light on a work he is discussing. Annotation 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
