A review by nattygsmith
We, the Drowned by Carsten Jensen

5.0

This was an amazing journey through the (fictional, but historically accurate) story of the small town of Marstal in Denmark, during the turn of the 20th century and advent of the first World War. The characters, who start out as legendary sailing figures from the town's folklore and evolve into the gritty, real seamen of the steam and coal-powered ships, are all spellbinding, and have tangible and real impacts on each other's histories and futures. The translation seems to have been deftly accomplished, with language that is both beautiful English writing and seems to have the air of the cold and harsh northern European waters. This is a portrait of a town as its families struggle to adapt to technological progress, then devastating warfare, all on the beautiful and unforgiving sea. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and maritime literature.