Alberta Alone

The work of one of Norway's most distinguished 20th-century novelists, Alberta Alone forms the last part of the Alberta trilogy, which traces the emotional development of a lethargic and unhappy girl into a self-sufficient woman. The previous volumes of this trilogy have been widely acclaimed as being among the masterpieces of contemporary literature. In this third part, which stands as a novel on its own, Alberta, now mistress to Sivert, a Norwegian artist, is living in Paris with their small son. While Sivert is involved in a liaison with a Swedish painter, Alberta falls in love with Pierre, a writer who has just returned from the First World War. After a period of conflict Sivert and Alberta return to Norway, and there Alberta's self-realisation becomes complete. With subtlety and insight, Cora Sandel depicts the gradual corrosion of a relationship, against the background of the aftermath of the Great War.

Following Alberta and Jacob and Alberta and Freedom, this final volume of the semi-autobiographical Alberta Trilogy finds Alberta, now with a young child, In Paris just after the First World War. While her husband Sivert pursues a liaison with a Swedish painter, she falls in love with a French writer, a war veteran sympathetic to her creative needs. After a period of conflict Alberta returns to her native Norway, and there her independence becomes complete. With subtlety and insight, Sandel depicts the corrosion of a relationship against the background of the aftermath of war. Sandel has been compared with the likes of Jean Rhys and Colette, and the Alberta books have been hailed as early feminist classics.

Cora Sandel was the author of the semi-autobiographical Alberta trilogy. She was awarded a State Pension for artists by Norway.