Norby is requested to guarantee a bank loan for Wangen and he obliges, signing the loan document in the presence of a witness. Some time later the witness dies. Years after that Wangen defaults on the loan, requiring Norby to pay the balance, but Norby declares his signature on the document to be a forgery. The profound effects of this lie on Wangen, Norby, their wives, families and community form the basis of this brilliant Norwegian novel, presented here in a first-rate English translation. (Lee Smalley)     [chương_files]