Burial Rites Summary
Hannah Kent

Burial Rites Overview

Burial Rites is a gripping novel written by award-winning author, Hannah Kent. Although this is a work of fiction, it is based on true events. The author combines omniscient points of view and epistolary literary techniques to convey the experience of a young, Icelandic woman's tragic fate. This narrative incorporates true events with suppositions to provide heart-wrenching insight into the life of a misunderstood woman. The prologue begins with a short interlude into the mind of Agnes, the woman to be executed for murder. The plot takes the reader through Agnes' predicament and posits the question, "What is truth and who determines what truth is?" In the end, truth appears to be the last consideration when it comes to Agnes' life. However, authenticity and warmth do flicker about this narrative as the other characters come to realize that everything is not always what it seems.