Ghost stories and executions in Iceland — when Hannah Kent and Agnes Magnusdottir became entwined
Hannah Kent's arrival in Iceland as a high school exchange student in 2003 was a difficult one.
On her first night in the country, she found herself stranded late at night at Keflavik Airport and desperately homesick.
But within weeks, Iceland had begun to change young Hannah — its dramatic landscapes, extraordinary light and chilling ghost stories embedded themselves in Hannah's psyche.
She became particularly entranced with the haunting story of accused murderer and domestic servant, Agnes Magnusdottir, who became the last person executed in Iceland.
Hannah's later novel, Burial Rites, was inspired by Agnes' story and became a best-seller. But there were many unsolvable mysteries that lingered in her mind years after that book was released.
Hannah returned to Iceland to find answers, and discovered her life was still entwined with Agnes in strange and eerie ways.
Further information
This episode of Conversations was recorded live at the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival.
Always Home, Always Homesick is published by Pan Macmillan
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'I don't know what I'll do': The Project stars appear heartbroken in first reactions to Channel 10 axing their embattled current affairs show after 16 years
The Project panelists have reacted after Channel 10 confirmed the embattled current affairs program would be gone from the air within weeks. A Ten spokesperson confirmed to that The Project would end its run after 'almost 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes'. "The Project will air for the last time on Friday, June 27, ending an incredible run of almost 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes,' the network said in a statement. "The impact that The Project has had on the media and entertainment industry, countless careers, as well as on Australian society and culture, cannot be overstated.' On Monday evening's episode, the series' high-profile hosts—Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Steve Price, and Sam Taunton—appeared heartbroken during their first show since the news broke. "16 years is an incredibly long period of time for a TV show. It's a huge success to pull that off, and so many people have contributed to that," Aly said. "They all do a fantastic job, for example, Kim, who is operating Camera Three right now and look, it is a great shot. She's doing a wonderful job. "This is the way things work. A huge shout-out, though, to our viewers as well." 'This isn't goodbye, we will see you again more over the next few weeks, but I know and everyone who has worked on the show know these are the best viewers in Australia. It has been a privilege to serve you.' Channel 10 veteran Sarah Harris, visibly emotional, said she was "so grateful" to have contributed to The Project since 2022. "My first appearance on this show was as a Dave Hughes funny; I fell over during a media scrum outside court," she said. "But I am so grateful that I got to sit on this desk and play TV with all of you; it's been such a fun thing to do." "It's the people that make a show, and The Project isn't just the people on this desk; it is the cast and crew behind the scenes." Price, who is a guest on Monday evenings, said he doesn't know what he will do without his role. 'This is the best crew of people I worked with. I was 55 when I started here. I'm now 70, that's 15 years. How an old fat guy like me can survive that long? I have no idea. But I'm still here," he said. "I'm really sad today; Melbourne has lost an incredible investment in its culture with the people who work on this show. "People who come out with music bands and have written books and were actors will lose the opportunity to be able to talk about their products. "It won't be able to be done anywhere else. I'll miss it. I don't know what I'll do on Monday nights.' It is unclear whether the hosts will be deployed to other projects at Ten or leave the network entirely. The Melbourne-based program features a rotating lineup of regular presenters, including Georgie Tunny, from Sunday through Friday. The series' original panel consisted of Carrie Bickmore, Charlie Pickering, and Dave Hughes. And its most well-known lineup was arguably Bickmore, Peter Helliar, Waleed Aly, and Hamish McDonald. It was during this era The Project and its hosts picked up a trophy case of Logie wins, including Gold Logies for Bickmore in 2015 and Aly in 2016. Bickmore and Helliar left the show in 2022 amid reported budget cuts and declining viewership at the free-to-air broadcaster. Ten also faced mounting challenges as The Project's ratings dwindled due to criticism over its "woke" left-wing bias. A new program called Behind the Lines, hosted by high-profile journalist Denholm Hitchcock, is set to air in July or August. Ten's new materials describe Behind the Lines as an investigative series that exposes "hidden" stories which matter to Australians. 'Go behind the headlines with 10 News First as our reporters dig deep to uncover the facts, follow every lead, and expose stories that others try to keep hidden," a synopsis reads. 'Hosted by Denham Hitchcock, this investigation series shines a light on issues that matter to Australians – holding the powerful to account with fearless journalism.' 'Real stories. Real impact. The truth told straight.' Senior journalist Dan Sutton will executive produce the show alongside a fresh high-profile team from rival Network Seven. This includes journalist Amelia Brace, former Seven Spotlight presenter Denham Hitchcock and former Seven senior producer Bill Hogan.
Sky News AU
9 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘It's time for me to take a breath': The Project star Sarah Harris jokes about possible gig on OnlyFans after series axed
Sarah Harris has broken her silence for the first time since Channel 10 confirmed The Project has been axed. A Ten spokesperson confirmed to that The Project wound end its run after 'almost 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes'. "The Project will air for the last time on Friday, June 27, ending an incredible run of almost 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes,' the network said in a statement. "The impact that The Project has had on the media and entertainment industry, countless careers, as well as on Australian society and culture, cannot be overstated.' It is unclear whether the series' high profile hosts, including Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris, will be deployed to other projects at Ten or leave the network entirely. In a tongue-in-cheek statement, Harris teased that fans should 'keep an eye out' for when she starts a page on adult subscription content website OnlyFans. 'I've had a blast, but it's time for me to take a breath and spend some time with my boys… keep an eye out for my OnlyFans page,' she said in a statement shared via the program's official Instagram page. Harris, a Channel 10 veteran who previously co-anchored the canned daytime series Studio 10, joined The Project in 2022. 'Our supportive Queen, Sarah Harris, has spoken following the news that we are finishing up on June 27 and her boys are going to have the best time with their Mum over the next few months,' the channel said in a statement. The Melbourne-based program features a rotating line up of regular presenters including Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Sam Taunton, and Georgie Tunny from Sunday through Friday. The series' original panel consisted of Carrie Bickmore, Charlie Pickering and Dave Hughes, but its most well-known line up was arguably Bickmore, Peter Helliar, Waleed Aly, and Hamish McDonald. It was this era that saw The Project and its hosts pick up a trophy case of Logie wins, including Gold Logies for Bickmore in 2015 and Aly in 2016. Bickmore and Helliar left the Melbourne-based show in 2022 amid reported budget cuts and declining viewership at the free-to-air broadcaster. A new half hour news program called Behind the Lines, hosted by high-profile journalist Denholm Hitchcock, is set air in July or August. It is understood Ten will be broadcasting the new show from Sydney to save on costs and already broadcasts The Project from Sydney on Sundays.
SBS Australia
10 hours ago
- SBS Australia
'I do this s*** for a living': The competition that rewards you for doing absolutely nothing
The Space Out competition awards a winner who has the lowest heart rate and best costume. Source: SBS News / Madeleine Wedesweiler An engineer, a fountain with warm running water, a Japanese elder, two rival Teletubbies and an actual labrador — these were some of the "athletes" in the running for the winner of Melbourne's competition to be the best at doing absolutely nothing. The Space Out contest, part of the city's winter Rising Festival, crowns its champion based on who can maintain the lowest heart rate for 90 minutes, as competitors veg out in a public space. Participants have their heart rate measured by doctors every 15 minutes to capture their technical score, and can be awarded points for their costumes and vibe — their artistic score. There is a somewhat serious element along with the novelty. South Korean artist Woopsyang first ran the competition in Seoul in 2014 to make a statement about hustle culture and burnout. This year in Melbourne, with perhaps the most elaborate costume of the day and certainly the only to use running water and electricity, local puppeteer Amelia took home the winner's certificate, dressed as a fountain. Sitting in a pool of water for the event's duration, Amelia had two helpers heating the water with kettles to help manage the cold conditions caused by polar air across southeastern Australia. But the event's presenters speculated the water lowered her heart rate — cold water is known to slow the body's blood pressure and heart rate and can eventually lead to hypothermia and possibly death from prolonged exposure. "I chose to do a puppet that uses water as I think it is the laziest of all elements, t always finds the path of least resistance," Amelia told SBS News before the competition started. "My strategy is to imagine that I am a sea sponge." In her winner's speech Amelia dedicated the win to the fountain in her grandmother's garden. "It's where she likes to sit and experience serenity. [I dedicate this] to everyone here as well, we are all fountains from when we wake up and take a shower until, well, when we next take a shower." Runner-up was Anthony, a man who initially claimed to be an engineer and was dressed as one, but then said he lied and he's unemployed. Tiggolo, a retired seeing-eye dog, was awarded third place for his very low heart rate and zen nature. The black Labrador's owner said he was keen to chill out after his years of service, though around 5pm (his dinner time) he nearly lost composure, but gained it and stared deeply into her eyes. Another puppet costume, with a giant paper mache head that took two months to make, was awarded the "special prize". Participants were required to write a statement about why they were competing and audience members could place a vote on their answers in the form of red stickers. "Full time sofa coder. I do this shit for a living," one wrote. "ADHD sisters about to enter their mind palace," said another. "90 minutes of quiet dress ups and keeping kids entertained," said a clever parent. "I want to learn to space out to teach my children that it's already wonderful and valuable to just BE!" reads a much-stickered statement. Woopsyang cultivated an air of mystique, wearing sunglasses, a white, Korean hanbok-inspired dress and black hat, and silently walking onstage to unveil huge scrolls with messages for participants just before the competition starts. "Sometimes doing nothing can be the most powerful and valuable act," the first scroll reads. After she revealed all the scrolls and called sequined performer Gabi Barton onstage to lead some stretching, the still-silent Woopsyang rang a tiny bell into a microphone to commence the competition. Informed by hardcore work culture in some Asian countries, Woopsyang has toured the Space Out competition to other cities including Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai — this is its first time in Australia. "Normally Asians think that Western people are very chilled and relaxed, have their nice lifestyle, but then when I came to Melbourne a few days ago and saw people coming and going and rushing, I figured out even in Melbourne, life is so busy and everyone is very overwhelmed," she told SBS News through an interpreter. Recent research indicates two in five Australian workers began 2025 already feeling burnt out, and 90 per cent of Australian employees feel that burnout is ignored until it becomes critical. Burnout is an "occupational phenomenon", not a medical condition, according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2019 definition. The WHO says it typically presents as exhaustion, negative feelings towards one's job, and reduced professional productivity. Woopsyang wanted the event to represent all different ages and professions, as though she was creating a miniature city where everyone was spacing out together. "Ten years ago when I was working as an artist, I felt so burnt out, and so overwhelmed. "I was interrogating myself: 'Why do I feel so much anxiety? Why can't I stop, why can't I pause?' "But then I thought everyone who surrounded me was still busy and doing other stuff and so I thought what if we all need to stop and then we can all take a break and recover," she said. Woopsyang said the Melbourne event is now her favourite and almost brought her to tears because of how well everyone performed, though the first iteration will always have a special place in her heart. But 10 years later, she says she's busier and has much less time to space out than ever before. Her own advice might be helpful for that — to find moments of appreciation, calm and stillness throughout the day, wherever you can. Share this with family and friends
