NORWAY GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE 2019

NORLA, Abroad P. O. Box 1414 Vika NO-0115 THE –––– ARE COMING! Tel: +47 23 08 41 00 www.norla.no [email protected] –––– Visiting address: Observatoriegata 1B, 3rd fl. –––– Visit NORLA on : www.facebook.com/norwegianliterature Norwegian literature is travelling more than ever before. Between 2004 and 2015 NORLA has contributed funding to the translation of more than 3700 books, into no less than 65 languages. Norwegian is among the 15 most translated languages in the world. Fiction

– Jostein Gaarder? Is he Norwegian? Yes, trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter has become Norwegian contemporary literature has in Blind Glass Windows (1981), followed by international breakthrough came with her indeed. And he is not alone. Norwegian an international classic, and her books the course of recent decades entered into two volumes to create the Tora Trilogy. These book Berlin Poplars (2004) which is the first authors have stepped out onto the world have been translated into a large number a new golden age, and a number of fiction books contribute to a Norwegian tradition of book in a trilogy about the Neshov family. literature stage. of languages. authors are making their mark internationally. realism about the coming of age of an unusual The trilogy was a sales success, and was Erik Fosnes Hansen was one of the first and artistic child. subsequently adapted for the screen, reaching Norway is famous for its writers, especially literature continues to Norwegian authors to make an international a large audience as a television series. when it comes to drama. receive a lot of attention abroad. breakthrough. His novel Psalm at Journey’s is one of the Norwegian (1828–1906) is often called the father of the is the most frequently performed and most End (1990), which tells the story of fictive authors who have sold the most abroad, Norway’s most recent shining star in the modern drama, and his works revolutionised debated Norwegian dramatist after Henrik ship musicians on the RMS Titanic, was an with five publications translated into a total fiction heavens is Karl Ove Knausgård. The the development of dramatic technique in Ibsen, and has achieved great international enormous success and has been on a victory of 34 languages. Her novel The Cold Song publication of his series My Struggle I-VI Europe and the USA. His plays remain popular recognition for his dramas which are lap around the world. has been was hugely successful when it was published created waves. Knausgård’s project is highly today, and are said to be the second most characterised by a literary minimalism. translated into 50 languages. Out Stealing in English in the USA in 2014, and was representative of one of the strongest trends performed in the world, after Shakespeare’s. Horses has received a number of prizes in included on several prestigious lists of the in modern Norwegian literature: the dividing Ibsen’s dramas offer social analysis and Norway and abroad. Petterson was the first best books of the year, including in The line between fantasy and reality, fiction and critique, and the masterful portrayal of Norwegian author ever to be awarded . In his review in The New non-fiction is erased. Paul Binding wrote in existential and psychological conflict. Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and Yorker, literature critic describes the Times Literary Supplement that “Knaus- The International IMPAC Dublin Literary the book as “an excellent, formidable novel”, gård belongs to an identifiable Norwegian Norway has three Nobel laureates. Award, for precisely this novel. concluding that Ullmann herself “is a very tradition – Ibsen, , Edvard Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson was awarded the Nobel exact writer, who is unsparing of her Munch, , Per Petterson – in his Prize in 1903 as “a tribute to his magnificent Another well-established Norwegian author characters: a tonic, sharp, lyrical, intelligent ability to achieve the frank, unfettered con- and versatile poetry”.1 Knut Hamsun received with a huge foreign readership is Herbjørg novelist who deserves to be better known in centra-tion on naked personal experience.”3 the Nobel Prize in 1920 for , Wassmo. Wassmo has earned her position English”.2 and his earlier breakthrough novel and popularity in Norway and abroad With Knausgård’s success Norwegian remains one of the most important classics in through her abilities as a powerful storyteller Anne B. Ragde has a large readership both literature has secured its position as a visible Norwegian literature to date. Sigrid Undset was and her fondness for exposed and vulnerable in Norway and worldwide. She debuted in and prominent force in the literary landscape Karl Ove Knausgård Photo: André Løyning awarded the prize in 1928 for her compelling characters. Her breakthrough came with her 1990, and has written close to 50 books and Norwegian authors are considered an description of life in the . Her first novel about Tora, The House with the for both children and adults. Her great important part of world literature.

1 . www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/genres.html 2. www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/favorite- 3. http://archipelagobooks.org/back-in-this-world-a- books-2014 review-of-my-struggle-book-one-from-paul-binding- in-the-times-literary-supplement-uk “Must reads” – Contemporary Norwegian Literature Crime fiction

Fiction Non-Fiction The world’s first crime fiction novel is of Norwegian literature. Gunnar Staalesen Hole. His novels have been translated into probably the Norwegian The Murder of has achieved great international recognition no less than 50 languages. He has been Per Petterson Åsne Seierstad Engine Maker Rolfsen written by Mauritz for his crime fiction novels about the private praised for having expanded the genre Out Stealing Horses (2003) One of Us (2013) Hansen in 1839–40, the year before Edgar investigator Varg Veum – a Raymond through his strong, literary qualities, his Allan Poe wrote Murder in the Rue Morgue. Chandler-inspired hero with a social psychological insight and his depictions of Karl Ove Knausgård Lars Fredrik Svendsen Now, some 175 years later, Norwegian democratic heart. life in a modern, globalised world. My Struggle I-VI (2009-2011) A Philosophy of Boredom crime fiction is conquering the world! (1999) Another internationally recognised crime Other authors who have had great success Kjersti A. Skomsvold Norwegian crime fiction has a longstanding fiction author is Karin Fossum, who writes with police crime fiction are Jørn Lier Horst The Faster I Walk, Arnhild Lauveng tradition of high quality and among Norway’s literary, psychological crime fiction, with and Unni Lindell. Horst’s books excel The Smaller I Am (2009) A Road Back from Schizophrenia: Jo Nesbø. Photo: Paal Audestad foremost crime classics, André Bjerke’s detective Konrad Sejer as the protagonist. through the extreme realism of both the plots –––– A Memoir (2005) psychoanalytical crime novel The Lake of the Ten books have been published in the series and the descriptions of police work – not –––– Dead from 1942 stands out (written under so far, and her work has been translated into surprisingly, since he has a background as a Crime fiction Åsne Seierstad. Photo: Kagge Forlag the pseudonym Bernhard Borge) as does a number of languages. policeman. Lindell also puts a strong emphasis Children Gerd Nyquist’s The Deceased did not want on realism in her successful books about the Gunnar Staalesen Flowers (1960). Anne Holt has won huge international policeman Cato Isaksen. The Consorts of Death (2006) Stian Hole success with her two series, the one a realistic Garmann’s Summer (2006) Modern Norwegian crime fiction is to a large police novel series about the dysfunctional, Norwegian crime fiction literature is Jo Nesbø extent inspired by the Swedish author-duo lesbian police officer Hanne Wilhelmsen, characterised by its large breadth. The Snowman(2007) Maria Parr Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, who from and the other about the happy couple Vik Waffle Hearts(2005) 1965 to 1975 wrote ten novels about the and Stubø. Holt’s books have reached a Author and journalist Tom Egeland is best Karin Fossum police investigator Martin Beck. Typical big audience worldwide. known for his books about the archaeologist The Indian Bride (2000) Åshild Kanstad Johnsen for this type of crime literature is a socially Bjørn Beltø, the main character in a series Block Makes a Museum (2010) critical perspective. Norway’s handsdown, best selling author of action and adventure oriented books that worldwide is Jo Nesbø, who has become often have a story connected to There are a number of strong contemporary world famous for his crime fiction novels from the past. Egeland is often compared to authors writing within the crime fiction genre about the anti-hero police inspector Harry the American author Dan Brown. Did you know that...?

The Norwegian Purchasing book flora, characterised by The Norwegian porary literature and the Gyldendal’s publisher Harald The book was a success and Scheme (Innkjøpsordningen) high quality and breadth. “” interaction between literature Grieg during the Easter of it was clear that people liked The Norwegian purchasing Asbjørnsen and Moe’s and society. In the past few 1923. The advert, printed the idea of crime fiction for scheme is a state funding The National Library Norwegian Folktales, pub- years it has had an increasingly like a regular news article, Easter. The following year, the programme for Norwegian – digitalisation of books lished as booklets in the late international profile. appeared on the front page of publishing house Aschehoug book publications. The scheme The National Library of 1840s, have been translated a Norwegian daily under the began to focus on crime fiction is administrated by Arts Council Norway is working on a digi- into several languages. Like The festival takes place every headline “Bergen train looted during Easter time. Since then, Norway, which purchases new talisation project that is unique the German Brothers Grimm, year in Lillehammer at the end in the night”. The text was Easter has been incorporated books and distributes them to in a global context. Everything Asbjørnsen & Moe travelled of May/start of June.6 actually an advert for a new as the peak season for the Norwegian public libraries and published in different media throughout the countryside crime fiction book written by crime fiction genre.7 school libraries and to some is delivered to the National collecting folktales and folk- Crime fiction for Easter Nordahl Grieg and Nils Lie. educational institutions, Library and digitalised. The lore for publication. These Reading crime and detective Seamen’s Churches and libraries collection is further expanded folktales have become an novels during Easter is a abroad. The intention of the through acquisitions and important part of the national custom in Norway. scheme is to safeguard the donations. The digital collection Norwegian cultural heritage. TV and radio stations produce publication of new Norwegian contains materials from the crime series just for Easter books, to secure public access Middle Ages up to the present collection is available in digital Norwegian reads 17 books a The largest literature festival and publishers release series to the books, thereby making day. The material is digitalised format5. year. 6 out of 10 Norwegians in the Nordic countries of books known as “Easter it possible for all readers to learn for storage and some materials read up to 10 books a year, The Norwegian Festival thrillers” or påskekrim for the about contemporary literature, are made available to the public. A reading nation while 4 out of 10 read more of Literature is the largest Easter holiday season. and not least, to ensure better The digitalisation programme An entire 93% of the Norwegian than 10 books a year. The literature festival in the revenues for authors.4 This started in 2006, and it is population reads books other percentage of the population Nordic region based on non- It is believed that the tradition scheme contributes to Norway anticipated that it will be than school books and syllabus who read more than 10 books commercial values. Its main of påskekrim began with having an exceptionally rich 20–30 years before the entire literature. The average a year is at a solid 40%. focus is Norwegian contem- an ad-stunt on the part of

4. www.kulturradet.no/innkjopsordningene 5. www.nb.no/English/The-Digital- 6. www.litteraturfestival.no/en/the- 7. www.tnp.no/norway/exclusive/2836-in- Library/What-is-being-digitized festival/about-the-festival troductuib-to-paske-traditions-in-norway Non-fiction

Non-fiction genres have for centuries been an as the founder of the philosophical school of part of the same tradition. His works include bestseller list for 40 weeks, and has been sold diagnosis of schizophrenia. Today Lauveng write in an extension of the adventurer expression of identity and mindset in Norway. deep ecology. He was one of the important both academic textbooks and books for the to 40 countries. The social anthropologist works as a psychologist. In this book the tradition in Norway, such as Lars Monsen, minds of the environmental movement from general public. Erika Fatland is another Norwegian author reader is taken on a journey into a world of a Sámi-Norwegian adventurer and journalist, The first Norwegian non-fiction authors to the 1970s and onward. who has travelled out into the world. Her voices and hallucinations, and given unique famous for his explorations and expeditions become known abroad were explorers and Another non-fiction author with a solid first non-fiction publication was the book insight into Lauveng’s struggle to overcome into the harsh wilderness. Others write about adventurers. Fridtjof Nansen (1861 – 1930) Another Norwegian author whose work has position in this tradition is the philosopher City of Angels, a gripping documentary about this illness. This is powerful reading, about a nature’s cultural history, such as Henrik and Roald Amundsen (1872 – 1928) are still been translated into many languages is the Lars Fredrik H. Svendsen. He is a professor the Beslan school hostage crisis in 2004. In victory few would have believed possible. Svensen who in the book Captivated (2011) remembered for their incredible polar expedi- criminologist Nils Christie, who has written at the University of Bergen, and has published 2012 the book The Year without a Summer writes about the mountains’ history and our tions. The written accounts of their adventures about prison, conflict and crime control. a number of books about philosophy, all of was published, about the 22 July in Nature has experienced a renaissance in fascination with great heights. and expeditions remain popular to this day. which are characterised by an outstanding Norway. She is now current again with the Norwegian film, literature, visual arts and Nils Christie is part of a long-standing narrative voice. His breakthrough work was book Sovietistan: A Journey through Turkmen- journalism, something which finds expression But it is not solely nature that captivates. Thor Heyerdahlfollowed in the footsteps Norwegian tradition of communicating A Philosophy of Boredom (1999). istan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and in a wave of books about nature and life in Many wish to return to the roots of a simpler of this tradition. He became world-famous complex subject matter to a general public in Uzbekistan (2014). Here she takes the reader the outdoors. The books encompass a range time and learn how to make things by hand, when in 1947 he led the revolutionary and comprehensible lan-guage. Author and social Today Norwegian non-fiction is characterised along on a journey to countries that few of genres and perspectives on the relation such as by knitting and crocheting. Norwegian bold Kon-Tiki expedition, sailing a raft across anthropologist Thomas Hylland Eriksen is a first and foremost by a breadth and variation have visited – that now have greater current between human beings and nature. Some hobby books are a large export item and the Pacific Ocean. The fantastic story of the in genres and themes. The books that are relevance than ever before. some books sell by the tens of thousands, journey, The Kon-Tiki Expedition(1948), sold abroad can be about everything from both in Norway and abroad. Among the became one of the 20th century’s great inter- philosophy and psychology, to knitting and An interesting tendency in Norwegian most well-known authors are Arne & Carlos, national bestsellers and has been translated handicrafts. non-fiction is that of compelling personal who knit everything from clothing to toys to into more than 70 languages. Today another stories, a parallel to the trend of autobio- Christmas tree decorations. generation of adventure-loving authors have Of particular interest is the emergence of graphic novels. An example here is the taken the helm, among them Cecilie Skog, strong literary voices within journalistic and author Arnhild Lauveng. She writes with A book that combines the “do-it-yourself” Børge Ousland, Erling Kagge and Liv Arnesen. documentary books. In recent years, it is exceptional intensity about psychological approach with the strong sense for nature is Åsne Seierstad who has reached the most illness in her autobiography A Road Back Norwegian Wood (2011) by Lars Mytting, a However, not all Norwegian non-fiction readers in Norway and worldwide. Her from Schizophrenia: A Memoir (2006). In the book about wood chopping. The book was authors are explorers and adventurers. documentary book The Bookseller of Kabul course of a ten-year period she was admitted a bestseller both in Norway, and Philosopher and author Arne Næss is known (2002) remained on the New York Times’ to a psychiatric ward several times with the the UK. Children’s Literature

Norwegian children’s literature is diverse, Another Norwegian author who has had The most recent release was The Hole(2012). in 2015 is making headlines again with the Another young people’s book for readers and characterised by imagination, great success with novels for children is the For the book Detours (2007) in 2008 he was book Morkel’s Alphabet. who are a bit older and that has been sold to independence and autonomy. world-famous crime fiction author Jo Nesbø, awarded the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi many languages is ’s horror with his books about Doctor Proctor, Lise prize in the category for fiction. Among young and recently established tale Darlah: 172 Hours on the Moon (2008). The first Norwegian books for children were and Bulle. picture book artists one can also highlight This is a chilling sci-fi tale about three written in the late 18th century. Norwegian successes abroad such as Åshild Kanstad ordinary teens who win a trip to spend 172 children’s literature entered a golden age in With the recently established prize for Johnsen’s series about the character Block. hours on the moon. The question soon turns the post-war period. Thorbjørn Egner, Jostein Gaarder children and young people’s literature, the So far three books (and one e-book) have out to be: will they make it back alive? Anne Cath. Vestly and Alf Prøysen wrote Photo: Niklas Lello Nordic Council aspires to promote literature been published about Block – the little block books for children that are monoliths in for children and young people in the Nordic of wood with his many projects. Kanstad Darlah was in the autumn of 2014 named Norwegian children’s literature to this day. young adults is Jostein Gaarder. His novel region. In 2014 the prize went to the duo Johnsen succeeds through her good-natured the best Norwegian book for young people The books When the Robbers Came to Carda- Sophie’s World (1992) was the most sold fiction Håkon Øvreås and Øyvind Torseter, for and detailed drawings in making Norwegian of all time by a professional jury of experts, mom Town (1955), the novels about Twigson title in the world in 1995. The novel has been Brown (2013). By day, Rune is an ordinary pine forests and school marching bands seem in one of Norway’s largest newspapers. (1962) and Mrs. Pepperpot (from 1957) are translated into 60 different languages, and boy, but by night Rune becomes a super hero universal. The Block character has attracted traditional stories for children, where the has sold over 40 million copies worldwide. who is not afraid of anything. Armed with broad international attention, also in Japan, Crime fiction and thrillers for children is also child’s security is of a central importance, With the success of Sophie’s World, Norwegian a brush and brown paint, he sneaks out and where both animation series and countless a popular genre, and Bjørn Sortland has had while it remains clear that the little ones are literature made its international breakthrough. paints the bicycles of the older boys, who The previous year another significant spin-off products based on the books have success with books in this genre. also capable for accomplishing great feats. have been bullying him. Brown is a book Norwegian picture book artist won this been made. Since the turn of the new millennium, about friendship, courage and standing up prize, none other than Stian Hole, for Literature for children and young people has During the last few decades Norwegian Maria Parr has taken both Norway and the for oneself. The book is the first in a trilogy. his book Garmann’s Summer (2006). A Young adult novel is a genre attracting a high status in Norway and many established children’s literature has been flourishing as world by storm with her two books Waffle patent feature of Hole’s books is a gripping increased interest from abroad, particularly authors who write novels, also write for never before. In 2013, 401 new Norwegian Hearts (2005) and Tonje Glimmerdal (2009). Øyvind Torseter, who has illustrated Brown, is poetic lightness that communicates life’s after Gaarder’s success with Sophie’s World. children. This has led to a broad range of books books for children and young people were What these books share is a large portion of an important figure in the field of Norwegian big questions with a profound creativity. The author Nina E. Grøntvedt has written of a high literary quality, and ensures young published, and more authors are being trans- humour, main characters who are children picture books. The picture book genre is He is responsible for critically acclaimed bestsellers such as Hey, it’s me! (2010) and readers access to many forms of expression lated into different languages than ever before. with a lot of gumption, serious themes and under going continuous development and publications such as The Old Man and the Absolutely unkissed (2012), the first two titles in different genres. This is a reflection of the Best-known among internationally renowned not least, stable adult characters. Parr is often Torseter is responsible for a number of Whale (2005), the series about Garmann in a memoir series written and illustrated by huge breadth found in Norwegian literature, Norwegian authors of books for children and compared to the Swedes’ Astrid Lindgren. prize-winning picture book publications. (2006 – 2010), Anna’s Heaven (2013), and 11 year old Oda. for readers both young and old. Norway Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2019

The project will be organized by NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad), in cooperation with the book industry, other organizations and public bodies. Norway as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2019 is made possible by public and private funding.

NORLA, Norwegian Literature Abroad, promotes the export of Norwegian literature through active profiling work and translation subsidies for fiction, non-fiction and literature for children and young people.