Thorvald Steen
Encyclopedia
Thorvald Steen is a Norwegian
writer.
He made his literary debut in 1983, and has subsequently published a wide range of novels, plays, collections of poems, books of short stories, children’s books and essays. He has distinguished himself as one of Norway’s leading internationally-oriented writers. His Norwegian breakthrough came in 1992 with a cycle of poems, Ilden (The Fire) and shortly afterward he achieved international recognition with his creative historical novels Don Carlos (1993), Giovanni (1995), Constantinople (1999), The Little Horse (2002), Camel Clouds (2004) and Lionheart (2010). In 2006 Steen wrote the coming-of-age novel The Weight of Snow Crystals, which was followed in 2008 with the freestanding sequel The Longest Leap.
Steen’s work is translated into more than 20 languages and he has received several literary prizes, both at home and abroad. In 1993 he received Gyldendals legat (Gyldendal's Endowment
). The Belgian newspaper Le Soir declared Don Carlos one of the five best novels translated into French in 1996. The newspaper Clarin in Argentina chose Steen as “Best new writer” for Don Carlos the same year. In 2001 he received the Norwegian Dobloug Prize
for his entire work. The novel Camel Clouds was elected novel of the year by the Turkish newspaper Bir Gun in 2006 and won the Slovak Jan Holly Award in 2007. In 2006 Steen received the Comenius Medal from the University of Bratislava for his historical novels, and in 2010 he received the Thomsen Prize.
Steen was the chairman of The Norwegian Authors' Union
(1991–97) and he has been an honorary member of the union since 1997. He has also been Chairman of the Board in Norla (Norwegian Literature Abroad) since 1997 and a member of the Board of PEN since 2003. In 2004 he received a Governmental Stipend from the Norwegian Minister of Culture.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
writer.
He made his literary debut in 1983, and has subsequently published a wide range of novels, plays, collections of poems, books of short stories, children’s books and essays. He has distinguished himself as one of Norway’s leading internationally-oriented writers. His Norwegian breakthrough came in 1992 with a cycle of poems, Ilden (The Fire) and shortly afterward he achieved international recognition with his creative historical novels Don Carlos (1993), Giovanni (1995), Constantinople (1999), The Little Horse (2002), Camel Clouds (2004) and Lionheart (2010). In 2006 Steen wrote the coming-of-age novel The Weight of Snow Crystals, which was followed in 2008 with the freestanding sequel The Longest Leap.
Steen’s work is translated into more than 20 languages and he has received several literary prizes, both at home and abroad. In 1993 he received Gyldendals legat (Gyldendal's Endowment
Gyldendal's Endowment
Gyldendal's Endowment was a literature prize which was awarded in the period 1934–1995 by the Norwegian publisher Gyldendal Norsk Forlag. The prize was awarded to significant authors, regardless of which publisher the author was associated with...
). The Belgian newspaper Le Soir declared Don Carlos one of the five best novels translated into French in 1996. The newspaper Clarin in Argentina chose Steen as “Best new writer” for Don Carlos the same year. In 2001 he received the Norwegian Dobloug Prize
Dobloug Prize
The 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:...
for his entire work. The novel Camel Clouds was elected novel of the year by the Turkish newspaper Bir Gun in 2006 and won the Slovak Jan Holly Award in 2007. In 2006 Steen received the Comenius Medal from the University of Bratislava for his historical novels, and in 2010 he received the Thomsen Prize.
Steen was the chairman of The Norwegian Authors' Union
Norwegian Authors' Union
The Norwegian Authors' Union is an association of Norwegian authors. It was established in 1893 to promote Norwegian literature and protect Norwegian authors' professional and economic interests. DnF also works in solidarity with persecuted writers internationally.As of 2004 the association had...
(1991–97) and he has been an honorary member of the union since 1997. He has also been Chairman of the Board in Norla (Norwegian Literature Abroad) since 1997 and a member of the Board of PEN since 2003. In 2004 he received a Governmental Stipend from the Norwegian Minister of Culture.
Bibiliography
- Løvehjerte (novel) 2010
- Ørkenstormer (play) 2010
- Det lengste svevet (novel) 2008
- Historier om Istanbul (essay) 2008
- Vekten av snøkrystaller (novel) 2006
- Asylet. Gaustad sykehus 150 år (anniversary book) 2005 (ed.)
- Kamelskyer (novel) 2004]
- Fra Reykholt til Bosporus (travel notes) 2003
- Da pinnsvinet gjorde reven en tjeneste (children's book) 2002
- Den lille hesten (novel) 2002
- Luftskipet (short stories) 2000
- Konstantinopel (novel) 1999
- De tålmodige (play) 1997
- Kongen av Sahara (novel) 1997
- Jungel (essays) 1996
- En fallskjerm til folket (essay) 1995
- Giovanni (novel) 1995
- Frosken og sjiraffen og stillheten (children's book) 1995
- Frosken og sjiraffen (children's book) 1993
- Alexandrias aske (poems by Lars Saabye ChristensenLars Saabye ChristensenLars Saabye Christensen, born 21 September 1953 in Oslo, is a Norwegian author.Saabye Christensen was raised in the Skillebekk neighbourhood of Oslo, but lived for many years in Sortland in northern Norway; both places play a major role in his work...
, Gro DahleGro DahleGro Dahle is a Norwegian poet and writer.She was born in Oslo, and is a daughter of Øystein Dahle. She made her literary début in 1987 with Audiens , a collection of poetry...
, Paal-Helge HaugenPaal-Helge HaugenPaal-Helge Haugen is an award-winning Norwegian lyricist, novelist, dramatist and children's writer.Haugen was educated as a medical student at the University of Oslo. During the period 1965-67, Haugen was a member of the editorial team of literary magazine Profile...
and Thorvald Steen) 1993 - Don Carlos (novel) 1993
- Milli Meter og regnbuen (illustrated book) 1992
- Ilden (poems) 1992
- Tungen (novel) 1991
- Jeg er kanskje en fugl, sa Milli Meter (illustrated book) 1991
- Milli Meter og delfinene (illustrated book) 1990
- Månekisten (poems) 1988
- Neonulvene (poems) 1987
- Gjerrige fallskjermer (poems) 1985
- Hemmeligstemplede roser (poems) 1983
External links
- Thorvald Steen's biography and bibliography at Aschehoug Agency
- Thorvald Steen's biography and complete bibliography (in Norwegian) at Forlaget Oktober