Hour of the Wolf (novel)

The Hour of the Wolf is a 1968 novel by Ingmar Bergman. Although published as a novel, it is based on Bergman's screenplay for the 1968 film of the same name, Vargtimmen (Hour of the Wolf).

The story revolves around the experiences of Johan Borg, a painter, and his pregnant wife, Alma, as they isolate themselves on a remote island. Johan is plagued by increasingly disturbing visions and nightmares, blurring the line between reality and delusion. He keeps a diary detailing his fears and encounters with unsettling figures, gradually revealing his descent into madness.

Alma, initially supportive, becomes increasingly frightened and struggles to understand Johan's mental state. As Johan's hallucinations intensify, their relationship deteriorates, and Alma begins to experience her own disturbing visions, blurring the line between her perception and Johan's madness.

The novel, like the film, explores themes of artistic isolation, mental illness, the fragility of the human psyche, and the terrors that lurk in the unconscious mind. It delves into the darker aspects of creativity and the destructive potential of unchecked imagination. The narrative structure, utilizing Johan's diary entries and Alma's observations, creates a fragmented and subjective experience for the reader, mirroring the characters' fractured perceptions of reality.