“A glorious conclusion: Hoem’s family series will be remembered and read for a long time… a vivid portrait of a distinctive woman’s destiny… an engaging and lyrical portrayal of a woman who was both independent and strong, who conquered and explored her own life… Perhaps he writes wildly, but he does it with great conviction! And he does it in his distinctive, almost chanting style.”
Sindre Hovdenakk, VG

“Hoem repeatedly manages to convey his fascination for people from the past, the society, and the economy they lived in. The social aspect, which through slow, gradually accelerating changes, set the premises. Whether high or low… most of the results seamlessly intertwine into the novel’s narrative in an elegant way; Hoem knows how to do this… And the prose is Hoem’s own, in itself a reason to read.”
Leif Ekle, NRK

“Impressive… Hoem is a good poet – especially in this old-fashioned biographical novel genre. It’s lofty, sweet, sentimental, and beautiful… Hoem doesn’t succumb to the temptation of weaving in some drama in this beautiful conclusion to an impressive series.”
Cathrine Krøger, Dagbladet

“Concludes the family saga with a tender portrait of a woman … We are all related to Edvard Hoem, one might be tempted to think after reading The Housemaid … This is a woman who impresses with her knowledge and perseverance, and with her courage … It’s perhaps this delicate balance in the description of rich and poor, abundance and scarcity that leaves an impression… With The Housemaid, Edvard Hoem has put written the final page of a family history with imprints straight into the Norwegian collective soul.”
Turid Larsen, Dagsavisen