Pan
Pan
Book Brief
Beta181
Novel • Fiction
Nordland, Norway • 1850s
1998
Adult
18+ years
760L
Super Short Summary
Pan by Knut Hamsun explores the life of Lieutenant Thomas Glahn, who lives in solitude in the Norwegian wilderness. Through his interactions with the people of a nearby village, themes of love, nature, and existential struggle emerge, revealing the complexities of human emotions and the impact of the natural environment on personal experiences.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
11,513 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Pan by Knut Hamsun receives mixed reviews. Praised for its lyrical prose and deep exploration of nature and human emotion, it is often regarded as a seminal work in psychological literature. However, some critics find its plot meandering and characters underdeveloped. The novel's atmospheric depth is both a strength and a potential drawback for some readers.
Who Should Read Pan?
A reader who would enjoy Pan by Knut Hamsun is one who appreciates introspective and naturalistic narratives akin to those found in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness or D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, seeking an exploration of human emotion, isolation, and the sublime interplay between man and nature.
11,513 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Pan was published in 1894 and showcases Knut Hamsun's focus on the inner psychological lives of his characters, which was innovative for its time and contributed to his later recognition with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920.
Hamsun was inspired by his own experiences in Northern Norway when writing Pan, and the novel's detailed depiction of nature reflects his deep connection and respect for the natural world.
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The protagonist of Pan, Lieutenant Thomas Glahn, reappears in Hamsun's later work The Last Joy, providing fans of the author with a further exploration of the character.
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181
Novel • Fiction
Nordland, Norway • 1850s
1998
Adult
18+ years
760L
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