Nikolaj Frobenius takes us deep into the mind of Henry Oliver Rinnan, Norway’s most infamous traitor. This is a compelling novel of human darkness and historical betrayal.
Raging Light follows Rinnan’s journey from a humble working-class boy to a key figure in the Gestapo, where he led a unit that crushed the resistance, tortured, and killed his fellow Norwegians.
Frobenius skillfully explores how Rinnan balanced his role as a loving family man with his brutal work. The book also highlights the strong women in his life: his wife Klara and resistance fighter Edel Sødahl, who ultimately helped bring him down. Raging Light delves into the roots of fascism, portraying Rinnan as a complex individual without excusing his horrific actions. This unforgettable novel challenges readers to confront the nature of evil and its impact on history.
The novel has a dramatic trajectory akin to a thriller, with the author skillfully directing the development of Rinnan and the escalating horrors, including torture, the daily use of methamphetamine, insomnia, and paranoid traits—creating a chillingly unsettling effect. The stories of the resistance fighters and communists whose lives Rinnan destroyed are deeply unsettling to read.
Adresseavisa
Furiously good novel about a traitor’s stain on our country. (…) Nikolaj Frobenius has a documentary-like ability to capture what is most often overlooked when a traitor is documented between the covers.
Randaberg24
A brave novel. Frobenius shows how war, with fear and suspicion, paralyzes and affects an entire society.
Dagsavisen
Raging Light is a thought-provoking deep dive into what evil is and where it comes from. I read the book with great interest.
Erlend Loe
Raging Light is captivating, intriguing, and entirely devoid of dull moments. Even those without a specific interest in history will find enjoyment in reading it.
Tine Sundal
