Björn Mellemberg

The Troll Circle

The Troll Circle is an attempt at a musical portrayal of the plot in Sigurd Hoel's novel of the same name. We meet the young man Håvard from Telemark, who arrives in a rural village in Eastern Norway – likely inspired by Hoel's own home village. He eventually marries the village's attractive and wealthy widow, Rønnau, who owns one of the largest farms in the area. However, he faces strong opposition from the local community. There is little room for new thoughts and ideas. Håvard is powerless against village gossip and falsehoods. The oppressive force of the "village monster" (bygdedyret) becomes overwhelming. In the end, Håvard is sentenced to death.