BOOK AND BALL.

Folkestad will launch his new book "The Dream of Sealing and Greenland Fishing", a young boy's story.

Torbjørn Folkestad had an early dream of becoming a trapper and fisherman. His natural role models were involved in trapping and fishing. On the island where he grew up, the sea was a natural workplace and the sea had an early attraction for Folkestad. "Everyone warned me," says Folkestad, who with this book takes readers on his first seal hunting trip at the age of 15. In the book, he also tells about trips he later took to line fishing in Greenland and Newfoundland.

On board the boats he met many different people, all wonderful people who had lived this life for many years. The hard and dangerous profession had undoubtedly influenced many of them, and also myself, says Folkestad. In his book he writes about some of these tough guys who were far away from home and family. When they came home it was a holiday for many – and for some, a hard life.

In the book, Folkestad also tells a little of the history of one of the shipping companies: Pr. Brødrene Davik. The story tells of a dramatic decision in the April days of 1940 that the founder of the shipping company then made to flee westward into the sea, and of a strong love between two people. The leader of the escape was an innovative and energetic person; shipowner and skipper Nils Davik.

At the Ishavsmuseet this Thursday you will hear Torbjørn Folkestad talk about his book and his own experiences as a young seal hunter. He says that he is particularly happy to be able to launch his book at the Ishavsmuseet, in the same building where he celebrated his 16th birthday by delivering it after his first seal hunt. There will of course be an opportunity to buy the book. The Ishavsmuseet will serve potato balls with all the goodies before the book launch, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Welcome!