NORLA Karl Ove Knausgård Jostein Gaarder Sigrid Undset Åsne Seierstad Photo: André Løyning Photo: Niklas Lello Photo: Kagge Forlag Information on Norwegian Literature Norwegian literature is travelling more than ever before. Between 2004 and 2014 NORLA has contributed funding to the translation of more than 3300 books, into no less than 63 languages. Norwegian is among the 15 most translated languages in the world. FICTION Modern Norwegian literature Wassmo has earned her position and - Jostein Gaarder? Is he Norwegian? continues to receive a lot of attention popularity in Norway and abroad Yes, indeed. And he is not alone. abroad. Jon Fosse is the most fre- through her abilities as a powerful sto- Norwegian authors have stepped out quently performed and most debated ryteller and her fondness for exposed onto the world literature stage. Norwegian dramatist after Henrik Ib- and vulnerable characters. Her break- Norway is famous for its writers, espe- sen, and has achieved great interna- through came with her first novel cially when it comes to drama. Henrik tional recognition for his dramas about Tora, The House with the Blind Ibsen (1828-1906) is often called the which are characterised by a literary Glass Windows (1981), followed by father of the modern drama, and his minimalism. two volumes to create the Tora Trilo- works revolutionised the development Norwegian contemporary lit- gy. These books contribute to a Nor- of dramatic technique in Europe and erature has in the course of recent dec- wegian tradition of realism about the the USA. His plays remain popular ades entered into a new golden age, coming of age of an unusual and artis- today, and are said to be the second and a number of fiction authors are tic child. most performed in the world, after making their mark internationally. Linn Ullmann is one of the Shakespeare’s. Ibsen’s dramas offer Erik Fosnes Hansen was one Norwegian authors who have sold the social analysis and critique, and the of the first Norwegian authors to make most abroad, with five publications masterful portrayal of existential and an international breakthrough. His translated into a total of 34 languages. psychological conflict. novel Psalm at Journey’s End (1990), Her novel The Cold Song was hugely Norway has three Nobel lau- which tells the story of fictive ship successful when it was published in reates. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson was musicians on the RMS Titanic, was an English in the USA in 2014, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1903 as “a enormous success and has been on a included on several prestigious lists of tribute to his magnificent and versatile victory lap around the world. the best books of the year, including in poetry”.1 Knut Hamsun received the Per Petterson has been trans- The New York Times. In his review in Nobel Prize in 1920 for Growth of the lated into 50 languages. Out Stealing The New Yorker, literature critic Soil, and his earlier breakthrough nov- Horses has received a number of priz- James Wood describes the book as “an el Hunger remains one of the most es in Norway and abroad. Petterson excellent, formidable novel”, conclud- important classics in Norwegian litera- was the first Norwegian author ever to ing that Ullmann herself “is a very ture to date. Sigrid Undset was award- be awarded the Independent Foreign exact writer, who is unsparing of her ed the prize in 1928 for her compelling Fiction Prize and The International characters: a tonic, sharp, lyrical, intel- description of life in the Middle Ages. IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, for ligent novelist who deserves to be bet- Her trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter has precisely this novel. ter-known in English”.2 become an international classic, and Another well-established Nor- Anne B. Ragde has a large her books have been translated into a wegian author with a huge foreign readership both in Norway and world- large number of languages. readership is Herbjørg Wassmo. wide. She debuted in 1990, and has NORLA Jo Nesbø. Photo: Paal Audestad “MUST READS” - written close to 50 books for both children CONTEMPORARY and adults. Her great international break- NORWEGIAN through came with her book Berlin Pop- LITERATURE lars (2004) which is the first book in a trilogy about the Neshov family. The tril- Fiction ogy was a sales success, and was subse- quently adapted for the screen, reaching a Per Petterson large audience as a television series. Out Stealing Horses (2003) Norway’s most recent shining Karl Ove Knausgård star in the fiction heavens is Karl Ove My Struggle I-VI Knausgård. The publication of his series (2009-2011) My Struggle I-VI created waves. Knaus- gård’s project is highly representative of Kjersti A. Skomsvold one of the strongest trends in modern Nor- ten novels about the police investigator The Faster I Walk, wegian literature: the dividing line be- Martin Beck. Typical for this type of The Smaller I Am (2009) tween fantasy and reality, fiction and non- crime literature is a socially critical per- fiction is erased. spective. Paul Binding wrote in the Times Literary There are a number of strong Crime Fiction Supplement that “Knausgård belongs to contemporary authors writing within the an identifiable Norwegian tradition – Ib- crime fiction genre of Norwegian litera- Gunnar Staalesen sen, Knut Hamsun, Edvard Munch, Tarjei ture. Gunnar Staalesen has achieved The Consorts of Death (2006) Vesaas, Per Petterson – in his ability to great international recognition for his Jo Nesbø achieve the frank, unfettered concentra- crime fiction novels about the private in- 3 The Snowman (2007) tion on naked personal experience.” vestigator Varg Veum – a Raymond With Knausgård’s success Nor- Chandler-inspired hero with a social dem- Karin Fossum wegian literature has secured its position ocratic heart. The Indian Bride (2000) as a visible and prominent force in the Another internationally recog- literary landscape and Norwegian authors nised crime fiction author is Karin Fos- are considered an important part of world sum, who writes literary, psychological Non-Fiction literature. crime fiction, with detective Konrad Sejer as the protagonist. Ten books have been Åsne Seierstad CRIME FICTION published in the series so far, and her One of Us (2013) The world’s first crime fiction novel is work has been translated into a number of probably the Norwegian The Murder of Lars Fredrik Svendsen languages. A Philosophy of Boredom Engine Maker Roolfsen, written by Anne Holt has won huge interna- (1999) Mauritz Hansen in 1839-40, the year tional success with her two series, the one before Edgar Allan Poe wrote Murder a realistic police novel series about the Arnhild Lauveng in the Rue Morgue. Now, some 175 dysfunctional, lesbian police officer A Road Back from Schizophre- years later, Norwegian crime fiction is Hanne Wilhelmsen, and the other about nia: A Memoir (2005) conquering the world! the happy couple Vik and Stubø. Holt’s Norwegian crime fiction has a long- books have reached a big audience world- standing tradition of high quality and wide. Children among Norway’s foremost crime classics, Norway’s hands-down, best sell- André Bjerke’s psychoanalytical crime ing author worldwide is Jo Nesbø, who Stian Hole novel The Lake of the Dead from 1942 has become world famous for his crime Garmann’s Summer (2006) stands out (written under the pseudonym fiction novels about the anti-hero police Bernhard Borge) as does Gerd Nyquist’s Maria Parr inspector Harry Hole. His novels have Waffle Hearts (2005) The Deceased did not want Flowers been translated into no less than 50 lan- (1960). guages. He has been praised for having Åshild Kanstad Johnsen Modern Norwegian crime fiction expanded the genre through his strong, Block Makes a Museum (2010) is to a large extent inspired by the Swe- literary qualities, his psychological insight dish author-duo Maj Sjöwall and Per and his depictions of life in a modern, Wahlöö, who from 1965 to 1975 wrote globalised world. NORLA Jo Nesbø. Photo: Paal Audestad Did you know that...? Other authors who have had great success with police crime fiction The Norwegian Purchasing Scheme are Jørn Lier Horst and Unni Lin- (Innkjøpsordningen) dell. Horst’s books excel through the The Norwegian purchasing scheme is extreme realism of both the plots and a state funding programme for Norwe- gian book publications. The scheme is the descriptions of police work – not administrated by Arts Council Nor- surprisingly, since he has a background way, which purchases new books and as a policeman. Lindell also puts a distributes them to Norwegian public strong emphasis on realism in her suc- libraries and school libraries and to cessful books about the policeman Ca- some educational institutions, Sea- to Isaksen. men’s Churches and libraries abroad. Norwegian crime fiction literature is The intention of the scheme is to safe- characterised by its large breadth. guard the publication of new Norwe- gian books, to secure public access to Author and journalist Tom the books, thereby making it possible Egeland is best known for his books for all readers to learn about contem- about the archaeologist Bjørn Beltø, porary literature, and not least, to en- the main character in a series of action 4 sure better revenues for authors. This and adventure oriented books that of- scheme contributes to Norway having ten have a story connected to mysteries adventurers. Philosopher and author an exceptionally rich book flora, char- from the past. Egeland is often com- Arne Næss is known as the founder of acterised by high quality and breadth. pared to the American author Dan the philosophical school of deep ecolo- Brown. gy. He was one of the important minds The National Library – digitalisa- of the environmental movement from tion of books NON-FICTION the 1970s and onward.