The Celestial Sphere
By Olli Jalonen
In this glorious novel set in the 1680s, science and religion go head-to-head in a duel as the rays of the Enlightenment can be seen in the horizon.
Angus, a young peasant boy on the mystical island of St. Helena is tasked by his tutor, Edmond Halley, to mark out the constellations in the night sky to hone his eyesight to be as sharp as any sail needle.
While diligently carrying out his duties, Angus dreams of London and of learning more from his master who has returned to the motherland. A devastating act of violence, directed at Angus’s own family, marks the beginning of restless times on the island. The secret Catholics conspire, and the island’s autocratic governor furthers his own interests. Angus is stowed away on board a ship bound for England, a secret note sewn inside his shirt, intended for Halley to pass on to the English authorities. As Angus’s new life begins in the heights of the ship’s crow’s nest, who could have foretold the humble boy’s journey to become an astronomer’s apprentice and to play a role in the history of science?
Publishing information
Rights sold
- China
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Germany
- Spain
- Latvia
- The Netherlands
Awards & nominations
Awards
2018
Finlandia Prize
Nominations
2019
Runeberg Prize
Reviews
"Finnish literature changes to world literature in the hands of Olli Jalonen."
"Jalonen’s language is enchanting, ponderous, rounded and beautiful. The rhythm, the word choices, and the word ordering were among many reasons why, while reading, I never knew if I should devour the text or advance as slowly as possible."
"This is fiction at its best: times, places and the age and gender of the characters are not relevant when the narrative constructs a reality which is nothing short of true, right there to sense and to grasp at the moment of reading. I am at the feet of a great story ... This work speaks to me on many levels and disentangles how we are limited by time, position and our surroundings. "
"An inspiring, emotionally exciting and thrilling story with a driving, adventurous plot... Handles effortlessly the fundamental dimensions of being human, as well as science, society and philosophy."
"A truly dazzling, astonishing novel"
"Jalonen’s language is enchanting, ponderous, rounded and beautiful. The rhythm, the word choices, and the word ordering were among many reasons why, while reading, I never knew if I should devour the text or advance as slowly as possible."
"Finnish literature changes to world literature in the hands of Olli Jalonen."
"The young boy Angus in Olli Jalonen's The Celestial Sphere is a delightful narrator whose pensive and almost devout chatting enchants the reader. He is a quiet observer who recognizes his passion for learning and knowledge. A refugee is his own time, he has to leave his native island to escape from religious fanaticism and an arbitrariness. In front of Mr. Halley's apprentice's eyes, the world opens up to a mosaic of different explanatory models where science, which emphasizes precise - and perhaps even compulsive - observation, is separating from the worldview defined by belief and religion. The Celestial Sphere is brilliantly crafted: the stars in this oeuvre are people, not the comet."
