An Epistolary Fable in the Digital Age
Anita Singh
BLACK CALF @ WHITE SNOW: AN EMAIL NOVEL by By Hans Sande. Translated from the original Norwegian by Marietta Taralrud Maddrell. Series Editor: Teji Grover. Illustrations by Per Dylovig Yatra Books, an Imprint of Vani Prakashan Group, 2023, 104 pp., INR 575.00
September 2024, volume 48, No 9

Black Calf @ White Snow is an epistolary novel presented through a string of emails exchanged between a mother cow named Krollbrura and her son named Krollalfa . The novel begins with the headstrong Krollalfa, a young calf who has run away from the farm to live an independent life in greener pastures in distant lands. It focuses on detailing the growth of the calf protagonist who is traversing into the world and goes on a journey to adulthood.

As a fable, it features anthropomorphized animals with talking characters. On the surface, it appears to be a straightforward story about non-human animal’s standpoint and parental relationship. However, it delves into significant aspects of life, including growing up, safety, sexuality, friendships, and the experiences of life and death along with problematizing the human-animal bond. The novel addresses an overarching philosophy, encapsulated by its epigram: ‘We must never be afraid to go too far because the truth lies beyond.’

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