NORWAY GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR 2019 NORLA, Norwegian Literature Abroad P. O. Box 1414 Vika NO-0115 Oslo THE NORWEGIANS Norway –––– ARE COMING! Tel: +47 23 08 41 00 www.norla.no [email protected] –––– Visiting address: Observatoriegata 1B, 3rd fl. –––– Visit NORLA on Facebook: 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 Modern Norwegian literature continues to Norwegian authors to make an international a large audience as a television series. when it comes to drama. Henrik Ibsen receive a lot of attention abroad. Jon Fosse breakthrough. His novel Psalm at Journey’s Linn Ullmann 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. Per Petterson 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 the New York Times. 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 James Wood describes the Times Literary Supplement that “Knaus- Sigrid Undset 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, Knut Hamsun, Edvard Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson was awarded the Nobel exact writer, who is unsparing of her Munch, Tarjei Vesaas, 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 Growth of the Soil, Wassmo. Wassmo has earned her position English”.2 and his earlier breakthrough novel Hunger 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 Middle Ages. 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 mysteries 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. “Brothers Grimm” 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.