Dag Solstad
Encyclopedia
Dag Solstad is a Norwegian novel
ist, short-story writer
, and dramatist whose work has been translated into several languages. He has written nearly 30 book
s and is the only author to have received the Norwegian Literary Critics’ Award
three times. His works have been translated into 20 languages.
His awards include the Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
in 1969, the Nordic Council's Literature Prize in 1989, for Roman 1987 and the Brage Prize
in 2006 for Armand V. Solstad is among Norway's top-ranked authors of his generation. His early books were considered somewhat controversial, due to their political emphasis (leaning towards the Marxist-Leninist side of the spectrum). Dag Solstad lives in part time in Berlin
and part time in Oslo
.
In 16.07.41 (2002), he tells the story in the first-person narrative, of his long and frequent walks through the streets of Berlin. However, the story is at the same time a journey in pursuit of a father-son relationship.
T. Singer (1999) is a story about a 34 year old librarian leaves Oslo in search of a satisfying and anonymous life in a smaller town. He marries a single mother and at first feels contented in his invisible role as husband and stepfather. However, after two years, Singer files for divorce; she is later killed in a car accident. He returns to Oslo with his stepdaughter where they live together but lead separate lives. Singer broods and becomes very alone yet feels content in the fact that he has chosen an enigmatic lifestyle. This book contains philosophical and existential observations of someone seeking to authenticate their identity through chosen isolation rather than social integration.
Medaljens forside (1990) is a book on the history of the industrial construction and engineering company Aker Kværner
, but the author insists it should nevertheless be considered as a novel, with the Aker company as its main character.
His 1982 novel Gymnaslærer Pedersens beretning om den store politiske vekkelse som har hjemsøkt vårt land was adapted for the screen in 2006 by Hans Petter Moland
as Gymnaslærer Pedersen.
With fellow novelist Jon Michelet
, Solstad has published a book after each of the FIFA World Cup
s in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998. The books blend analytic reporting with political and cultural commentary, and are contributions to genuine literature.
Solstad has also published various essays and articles, both for literary magazines and newspapers, and selections of these have been collected and published in three separate volumes.
In her Ph.D. thesis Why So Great? A Literary Discourse Analysis of Dag Solstad's Authorship (University of Oslo, 2009), Inger Østenstad argues from different perspectives that Solstad is Norway's greatest contemporary writer, and uses a version of Dominique Maingueneau's discourse theory to analyse the components of oeuvre, reception, para-text and meta-text that in Solstad's case contribute to his established greatness.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist, short-story writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and dramatist whose work has been translated into several languages. He has written nearly 30 book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s and is the only author to have received the Norwegian Literary Critics’ Award
The Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature
The Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature is awarded by the Norwegian Literature Critics' Association and has been awarded every year since 1950...
three times. His works have been translated into 20 languages.
His awards include the Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment is an annually awarded literary prize from the publishing house Aschehoug. The prize is a recognition of superior literary work. The publisher's editorial management makes the award based on their collective judgement of merit. Applications are not accepted.The...
in 1969, the Nordic Council's Literature Prize in 1989, for Roman 1987 and the Brage Prize
Brage Prize
The Brage Prize is a Norwegian literature prize that is awarded annually by the Norwegian Book Prize foundation...
in 2006 for Armand V. Solstad is among Norway's top-ranked authors of his generation. His early books were considered somewhat controversial, due to their political emphasis (leaning towards the Marxist-Leninist side of the spectrum). Dag Solstad lives in part time in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and part time in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
In 16.07.41 (2002), he tells the story in the first-person narrative, of his long and frequent walks through the streets of Berlin. However, the story is at the same time a journey in pursuit of a father-son relationship.
T. Singer (1999) is a story about a 34 year old librarian leaves Oslo in search of a satisfying and anonymous life in a smaller town. He marries a single mother and at first feels contented in his invisible role as husband and stepfather. However, after two years, Singer files for divorce; she is later killed in a car accident. He returns to Oslo with his stepdaughter where they live together but lead separate lives. Singer broods and becomes very alone yet feels content in the fact that he has chosen an enigmatic lifestyle. This book contains philosophical and existential observations of someone seeking to authenticate their identity through chosen isolation rather than social integration.
Medaljens forside (1990) is a book on the history of the industrial construction and engineering company Aker Kværner
Aker Kværner
Aker Solutions ASA is a Norwegian multinational provider of services related to engineering, construction, maintenance, modification and operation of both large and small industrial facilities. The company, with roots back to 1841, has its headquarters in Oslo and is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange...
, but the author insists it should nevertheless be considered as a novel, with the Aker company as its main character.
His 1982 novel Gymnaslærer Pedersens beretning om den store politiske vekkelse som har hjemsøkt vårt land was adapted for the screen in 2006 by Hans Petter Moland
Hans Petter Moland
Hans Petter Moland is a Norwegian film director. Hans Petter was the first born son of Odd Moland and Sigrid Eid Moland, and has a younger brother named Morten Moland. He is a film graduate from Emerson College in the United States. When living in Boston Hans Petter met a college student Elizabeth...
as Gymnaslærer Pedersen.
With fellow novelist Jon Michelet
Jon Michelet
Jon Michelet is a Norwegian novelist.He was the editor-in-chief of the Norwegian far-left daily Klassekampen from 1997 to 2002...
, Solstad has published a book after each of the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998. The books blend analytic reporting with political and cultural commentary, and are contributions to genuine literature.
Solstad has also published various essays and articles, both for literary magazines and newspapers, and selections of these have been collected and published in three separate volumes.
In her Ph.D. thesis Why So Great? A Literary Discourse Analysis of Dag Solstad's Authorship (University of Oslo, 2009), Inger Østenstad argues from different perspectives that Solstad is Norway's greatest contemporary writer, and uses a version of Dominique Maingueneau's discourse theory to analyse the components of oeuvre, reception, para-text and meta-text that in Solstad's case contribute to his established greatness.
Novels
- Irr! Grønt! - (1969)
- Arild Asnes, 1970 - (1971)
- 25. septemberplassen - (1974)
- Svik. Førkrigsår - (1977)
- Krig. 1940 - (1978)
- Brød og våpen - (1980)
- Gymnaslærer Pedersens beretning om den store politiske vekkelse som har hjemsøkt vårt land - (1982)
- Forsøk på å beskrive det ugjennomtrengelige - (1984)
- Roman 1987 - (1987)
- Medaljens forside - (1990)
- Ellevte roman, bok atten - (1992)
- Genanse og verdighet - (1994)
- Professor Andersens natt - (1996)
- T. Singer - (1999)
- 16/07/41 - (2002)
- Armand V. Fotnoter til en uutgravd roman - (2006)
- 17. roman − (2009)
Awards and prizes
- Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment 1969
- Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature 1969, for Irr! Grønt!
- Språklig samlings litteraturpris 1982
- Nordic Council's Literature Prize 1989, for Roman 1987
- Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature 1992, for Novel 11, Book 18
- Dobloug PrizeDobloug PrizeThe Dobloug Prize is a literature prize awarded for Swedish and Norwegian fiction. The prize is named after Norwegian businessman and philanthropist Birger Dobloug pursuant to his bequest. The prize sum is . The Dobloug Prize is awarded annually by the Swedish Academy.-Prize winners:...
1996 - Gyldendalprisen 1996
- Brage PrizeBrage PrizeThe Brage Prize is a Norwegian literature prize that is awarded annually by the Norwegian Book Prize foundation...
Honorary Award 1998 - Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature 1999, for T. Singer
- Vestfolds Litteraturpris 2001
- Aschehoug PrizeAschehoug PrizeThe Aschehoug Prize is published annually by the Norwegian publishing house Aschehoug. The Aschehoug Prize is awarded Norwegian authors on the basis of the merit of a recent publication. It is awarded on merit, irrespective of the publisher, base on a binding recommendation from the Norwegian...
2004 - Brage PrizeBrage PrizeThe Brage Prize is a Norwegian literature prize that is awarded annually by the Norwegian Book Prize foundation...
2006, for Armand V. Fotnoter til en uutgravd roman
External links
- Dag Solstad's biography and bibliography at Aschehoug Agency
- Dag Solstad at Forlaget Oktober
- Solstad bibliography : literature by and on Dag Solstad (National Library of Norway)
Reviews
- Novel 11, book18 – Paul Binding in The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, December 12, 2008 - Shyness and Dignity – Boyd Tonkin in The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, November 28, 2006