Bok Klubb: The Bell in the Lake

The Bell in the Lake by Lars  Mytting was brought to our attention by our Seattle based Norwegian American newspaper, as well as the Viking magazine (Nov 2021, pp.24-29) we all receive as members of the Sons of Norway.  The primary focus of the novel is a 700-year-old stave church in the fictional village of of Butangen.  At the time of this story, many of these churches were being dismantled (or demolished) to make way for more modern, comfortable churches. This was the case in Butangen in 1880.  A new pastor had just arrived, and he was eager to carry out his special plan. He had recently succeeded in making a very advantageous agreement with a professor of art history at the Dresden Academy of Art. Professor Ulbricht had made an offer to buy the church and transport it to Germany. This offer could not be refused. It would provide…