Literature

Between 1903 and 1928, three Norwegian authors were awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. The works of these authors played a central role in establishing the basis for modern Norwegian literature. In 1814 Norway’s 400-year union with Denmark was dissolved, only to be replaced by a union with Sweden that lasted until 1905. As the pressure to gain national independence mounted, so did the desi... Read more

Scientific literature is the foundation of the academic world. Norwegian writings in this genre reflect the wide array of disciplines and research fields relevant to Norwegian academia. Norway’s first university was founded in Christiania (the former name for Oslo) in 1811. The 1800s were a time of nation-building in Norway, and the development of Norwegian as a written language constituted a... Read more

Norway enjoys a dynamic essay tradition extending back to the Danish-Norwegian author Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754). Norway was part of a political union with Denmark from 1380 until 1814. During this time, Danish became the language of government and literature. Norwegian-born Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754) played a central role in the creation of a joint Dano-Norwegian literary tradition. Holberg’s... Read more

Norwegian travel literature has traditionally been linked to the discovery, exploration and conquering of inhospitable, difficult-to-access territories. In the late 1800s, travelling for adventure and exploration became closely associated with research fieldwork. In Norway, this was best exemplified by explorers Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930) and Roald Amundsen (1872-1928), both of whom published... Read more

Norwegian poetry dates back more than a thousand years to the Skaldic verse of the 9th century. During the Middle Ages, ballads, occasional poetry, and improvised poems known as stev were commonly produced. In addition to folktales, these anonymous works comprise a vital part of Norwegian folk literature. As education became more widespread - especially among the clergy - hymn writing emerged a... Read more

Norwegian contemporary literature has gained a popular following both at home and abroad.  Some of the best-known current authors include Jostein Gaarder (1952-) (see also Children’s Literature), Erik Fosnes Hansen (1965-) and Lars Saabye Christensen (1953-). Close to 30 contemporary Norwegian writers have been translated into more than ten different languages, and several hundred Norwegian.. Read more

Norway’s best-known playwright is Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906). Often called the father of the modern drama, Ibsen ’s works are said to have revolutionized the development of dramatic technique in Europe and the USA. His plays remain popular today, and are regularly performed throughout the world. Read more

Literature for children and young people has evolved greatly since it first emerged as an independent genre during the 1700s. Even folk and fairy tales were not originally intended for children, and first became regarded as children’s literature during the 1800s. Read more