Burial Rites

Chapter 1 opens with a public notice from Bjorn Blondal, the local District Commissioner, stating that the belongings of Natan Kettilson will be put up for public auction. In a letter to the Very Reverend Johann Tomasson, they discuss the burial of a man named Petur Jonsson. The two men were murdered, and there is some debate over whether Jonnson should be buried on consecrated ground alongside Kettilson, as he had a history of past petty crime. It is decided that since he was not formally condemned by the king, he will be buried with Christian rites. In a later letter, Blondal congratulates Assistant Reverend Thorvardur Jonsson on completing his studies and approves his position as an assistant Priest, while mentioning the recent murders and his decision to condemn the killers to death. He asks for Thorvardur’s assistance and explains the circumstances of the crimes.

The two men, Natan Ketilsson and Petur Jonsson, were found murdered in Natan’s burnt barn at Illugastadir Two women and a man were charged with these killings in Blondal’s district court, and all were sentenced to death. Although appeals are still ongoing on Copenhagen’s Supreme Court, Blondal expects the sentences to be upheld. The convicted man, Fridrik Sigurdsson, and one of the women, Sigridir Gudmunsdottir, are being held in prison.