Hannah Kent, a celebrated author, attributes much of her creative process to the scenic wood-lined trails of the Adelaide Hills, where she often engages in dialogues about her writing, particularly the challenges she faces. Accompanied by her wife, Heidi, Kent finds solace in these walks, using the time to vocalise her thoughts about her work, which she describes as a "great gift".
As she approaches her 40th birthday, Kent is in the midst of revisions for a screenplay, feeling excited and reflective about aging, especially after witnessing the untimely deaths of friends. Her new memoir, Always Home, Always Homesick, emerged during the pandemic, inspired by her experiences as a parent during lockdown and her nostalgic longing for Iceland, a significant place in her life since her first visit as a teen.
In 2003, Kent was a shy 17-year-old exchange student in Iceland, a journey that inadvertently shaped her future as a writer. That cold, dark arrival set the stage for a transformative experience where she learned the language and became part of a second family. While reminiscing about her journey, Kent recently rediscovered childhood journals and emails that sparked reflections on her identity and experiences, both past and present, feeling disconnected as she navigated motherhood and her writing career.
She describes these revelations as akin to a second adolescence, inspiring her to explore her relationship with her younger self. As her writing matured, she often felt drawn to the stories of others rather than her own. However, through the memoir, she reconciles this disconnection by engaging deeply with her formative years.
Kent’s debut novel, Burial Rites, was born from her fascination with Icelandic history and the tragic figure of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, executed in 1830. This work, grounded in thorough research, propelled her into the literary spotlight. Recently, she reflected on how the public perception of Magnúsdóttir’s case has evolved, and she acknowledges that if she wrote it today, she might approach it differently.
Upon returning to Iceland in 2023 for a literary festival, Kent was reminded of the profound impact the country has had on her life and writing, as well as how her narrative had intertwined with the cultural memory surrounding Magnúsdóttir. Now, through Always Home, Always Homesick, she invites readers to connect with her teenage aspirations and the passionate energy that fuelled her creativity at that age.
Kent concludes her reflective journey, recognising that despite the challenges of her current practices, the essence of her 17-year-old self continues to guide her writing today. After a fulfilling walk, she returns home to continue her writing, fulfilling her creative pursuits.