Four hundred years ago, pirates invaded the coast of Iceland and captured hundreds of people to sell into slavery in north Africa. In her debut novel, writer and broadcaster Sally Magnusson explores the experiences of the enslaved women through the story of Asta – and her attraction to the man who buys her.
This is a remarkable feat of imagination that transports the reader to 17th-century Iceland and Algiers. Magnusson has a real gift for description – we are plunged into the hot, overcrowded pirate ship as Asta struggles to give birth under a filthy sheet of canvas. We can smell the spiced perfumes of the roof garden harem in Algiers; the turf and mud of Iceland’s bleak coastline; feel the caress of silks, and the slice of frozen sea winds cutting across chapped cheeks.
It’s hard to ignore the relationship between Magnusson’s novel and our ongoing global refugee crisis. We are invited to reflect on how Asta’s story resonates with those of families displaced by war, persecution and trafficking today.
The importance of storytelling is a backdrop to the narrative. Asta finds solace in the Icelandic sagas and the tales of powerful Nordic women – the myths of “hidden people” or elves, and the legend of the titular Sealwoman. Indeed, the Sealwoman’s tale of leaving her ocean home and being stranded on land becomes symbolically linked to the novel as a whole. In the Algiers harem, women retell stories of freedom and love while trapped in their gilded cage. Asta’s talent for storytelling leads to comparisons between her and Scheherazade, as she builds a bond with the man who bought her, the wealthy Cilleby.
The two swap tales as the attraction between them deepens into love. Their relationship is persuasively written, and Asta’s desire for Cilleby is understandable … except that she is his slave and he is her owner.
This is an extraordinarily immersive read that emphasises the power of stories, examining themes of motherhood, identity, exile and freedom. Through her deft storytelling, Magnusson takes us on a journey that not only crosses continents, but encompasses tragedy and rich sensuality.
• The Sealwoman’s Gift is published by Two Roads. To order a copy for £14.44 (RRP £16.99) go to guardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99..
