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Scandinavian Novels: The Classics
Knut Hamsun Books
 important and conroversial writers of the 20th century, and he remains one of Norway's most widely translated fiction-writers.Hamsun's works center on the author's value of the simple and unsophisticated, and on his belief that man's only fulfillment lies with a relationship to the soil — a belief that led to a distrust of all things modern, and even to a dislike of civilization itself. His early works, such as Hunger (Sult), often had a vagabond/outcast opposed to civilization as the main character. Hunger, an autobiographical novel published in 1890, marked Hamsun's literary breakthrough as well as the emergence of Neo-romanticism in Norway. This "primitivism" theme and Hamsun's distrust of all things modern found its fullest expression in The Growth of the Soil (Markens Grøde), his masterpiece for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1920. A grand, sweeping saga of sacrifice and struggle, this epic tale recaptures the world of Norwegian homesteaders at the turn of the 20th century. Isak and Inger, an idealistic young couple, reject modern society to raise their family on a backcountry farm. Today, Hamsun's books are found in academic settings as well as in personal libraries, and several of his works are required reading in world lit courses in universities worldwide.
Jansson worked in many creative media, but the Finnish-born, Swedish-speaking woman is world-famous for writing the series of Moomin stories for children. Often thought of as a writer of children's stories (of which there many including collections and picture books), Jansson — who grew up in a very artistic and literary family — wrote 11 books for adults. In addition, she was a painter, mural painter, illustrator, and comic strip author. Tove Jansson received many awards and medals for both her works and her contributions. Born in 1914, she wrote and published multiple books each year throughout her adult life. She died in 2001. It has been written that Jansson's stories, including those in her children's books, always had a deeper meaning for readers of all ages to discover. Thomas Teal has excellently translated the following two books from Swedish. Sommarboken, The Summer Book, was written in Swedish and published in 1972; Den ärliga bedragaren, The True Deceiver, was written and published in 1982.
Sigrid Undset (1882-1949) was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1928 "principally for her powerful descriptions of Northern life during the Middle Ages," and mainly for her trilogy, Kristin Lavransdatter, an international classic. Undset, a productive writer and wonderful storyteller, wrote more than 30 literary works, and her books have been translated into many languages. Undset's writing -- from women's issues to Medieval Catholicism to writing about Nazis and World War II -- combines her knowledge of history with her great insight into the human condition. However, just as she was gaining fame with the public, she was going through turmoil in private. In 1939 Undset lost both her mother and daughter. Her oldest son, Anders, was killed during combat in Gausdal in 1940, and the Germans occupied Lillehammer, Undset's town, chopping up her writing desk. The frankness with which she expressed her anti-Nazi views, in both writing and speaking, resulted in the banning of her books in Germany, and the Norwegian government encouraging her to flee her native country. First she escaped to Sweden, and then to the United States, where she continued to support the Norwegian Resistance. In the U.S., she continued to address the public with anti-war speeches and lecture tours. Along the way, she met new acquaintances including novelist Willa Cather, who became a great admirer of Undset's novels. Exhausted and devastated by the impact of the war, Undset returned to Norway in 1945. Although she wrote no more, Undset was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav in 1947 for her "distinguished literary work and for her service to her country." Undset died in Lillehammer in June 1949. Kristin Lavransdatter In Kristin Lavransdatter (1920-1922), Undset interweaves political, social, and religious history with daily aspects of family life. The trilogy, more than a journey into the 14th century, also draws from Undset's own life—her familiarity with Norse sagas and folklore and with a wide range of medieval literature, her experiences as a woman, and her deep religious faith. Critics write that Undset's "grasp of connections between past and present and of human nature itself, combined with the extraordinary quality of her writing, sets her works far above the genre of historical novels." This new translation by Tina Nunnally (the first new English translation since the 1920s) retains the natural dialog and lyrical flow of the original Norwegian, it echoes of Old Norse legends, and avoids the stilted language of earlier translations. Nunnally also restores key passages left out of earlier translations. Trilogy LIT - 02 $40.00
 Jenny by Sigrid UndsetFirst published in 1911 when Undset was 29, this frank novel describes women's struggles for selfhood in a male-dominated society, and tells about one woman’s dream of love and her tragic fight to make that dream come true. The story is about Jenny Winge, a young Norwegian woman, who pursues the study of painting in Rome. However, the impact of the Eternal City sweeps Jenny up in a romance with a fellow countryman and artist. Although she tries to find a compromise between love and artistic goals, Jenny finds her dreams derailed and her life shattered. Jenny, the novel that marked Undset’s breakthrough as a modern writer, consists of two parts — each a stand-alone short story. Supplementing the stories are letters between Undset and her longtime Swedish pen pal, Andrea (Dea) Hedberg, as the two shed light on the lives of young Scandinavian women who were striving for independence, yet living in a world wrought with the responsibility for upholding traditional norms. The overall theme of the stories and letters is that, perhaps, there is no real connection between freedom and happiness. LIT – 08 Paperback $16.00  Return to the Future by Sigrid UndsetWritten in Brooklyn in 1942 with Americans as the intended audience, Undset’s autobiographical "Flight to Freedom" details her perilous flight from Norway to Sweden, across Russia to Japan, and finally to the United States. This book depicts the pain, the human frailties of life, Undset's passion for freedom, and her vision for an unknown future. When Norway was ripped apart by the invading Nazis in 1940, peace-loving Norwegian citizens were mentally and militarily unprepared for the relentless assault which devastated their country and their souls. Hope for the future sustained author Sigrid Undset, and mobilized her to actively participate in the underground resistance movement. This book is based on Undset's story of pain and courage, and depicts the sights, sounds and human frailties of life. LIT – 12 Paperback $13.95 Contemporary Scandinavian Novels  The Tricking of Freya by Christina Sunley Christina Sunley's debut novel, The Tricking of Freya, is the story of a young woman, told from her perspective, covering more than a 20 year span during which Freya Morris learns about her family and the secrets they share. Freya’s ancestors, originally from Iceland, abandoned their homes in 1876 after a ravaging volcano erupted destroying their village with ashen lava. Her grandparents and their immediate family journeyed to Canada and settled in Gimli (Icelandic name for Heaven) on the shores of Lake Winnipeg. It starts out as a letter from 30-year-old Freya Morris to her unknown cousin. As a child, Freya grew up in Connecticut with her mother, Anna, the daughter of the grandparents who moved to Canada. Starting when she was seven, Freya and Anna would spend summers in Gimli with her grandmother and “mercurial” aunt Birdie. Language is one of the central points of the plot in the book, and one of the challenges Icelandic immigrants face in Canada. Reviewers commend this first-time author for her "beautiful use of language and the engaging and complicated story." LIT - 07 Paperback $15.00  The Sound of Language by Amulya Malladi Escaping the turmoil and heartbreak of war-torn Kabul, Raihana settles in strange, cold, Denmark. To improve her language skills she lands an apprenticeship helping Gunnar, a beekeeper, harvest his honey. LIT - 09 Paperback $13.95  Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson; Anne Born, tr.Petterson, a popular contemporary author in Norway, has recently been gaining international acclaim for his powerful, yet gentle and almost silent, writing. Known in Norway for his mastery of the written story, current worldwide attention is the result of his novels being translated. Petterson was awarded the Norwegian Booksellers' Prize and the Critics' Award and, in 2007, he was the winner of the prestigious International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the largest and most international award of its kind, for this book. Rights to Out Stealing Horses have been sold in 24 countries. Called a magical novel that captivates the reader from the first page, this novel records the changing dance of time through the voice of 67-year-old Trond Sander as he recalls his life beginning with young adulthood in the aftermath of WWII, and Sanders' recollections "converge in his mind", and his personality is "sculpted out of the stark and unflinching natural beauty of Norway". LIT - 01A Hardcover $22.00 LIT - 01B Paperback $14.00 Linda Olsson Books 
Linda Olsson is Swedish by birth, has lived in many countries, and now resides in New Zealand. Olsson has written two novels in the past two years. Within a few months of the release of her first novel, Astrid and Veronika, she was thrust into the international literary scene. Her second novel, Sonata for Miriam, received the same worldwide acclaim and has now been nominated for the prestigious IMPAC Dublin Award. Both books celebrate her homeland of Sweden, and she has quickly become known for her "gorgeous prose" and her extraordinary understanding of human relationships. Astrid & Veronika is about the interior lives of two women, living through a Swedish winter in near isolation, and about the unique friendship they develop. But this simple story of friendship frames the dramatic pasts of the two women who share their riveting stories. As the tragedies of the protagonists are revealed, this quiet little book becomes a true page-turner. Sonata for Miriam is about an unexpected friendship that heals deep emotional wounds, and has been described as a haunting new novel of loss, love, and the human connection., and has a "sort of" subtitle of " The Consequence of Silence". This story follows composer Adam Anker on a journey from New Zealand, to Poland, and finally to Sweden. Scandinavian Plays Henrik Ibsen's Plays In the entire history of literature, there are few figures like Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906). Practically his whole life was devoted to the theater, and his offerings have changed the history of the stage. A major 19th century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet, Ibsen has been called "the father of prose drama," and a founder of Modernism. He moved away from the Romantic style, and brought the social problems and ideas of that era onto the stage. Themes he focused on were societal breakdown, stereotyping, class struggles, and morality. His later works were centered on deep psychological questioning. However, people in Norway did not welcome this thematic shift, and considered some of his works scandalous. Ibsen's works met with better approval in other countries, and today he remains among the most popular, studied, and produced playwrights ever. Six of his plays are available from Rural Route Bookstore: A Doll's House, An Enemy of the People, Ghosts, Hedda Gabler, Peer Gynt, and The Wild Duck. (These are unabridged versions, and may be used in the U.S. — in entirety or in adaptations — for theatrical purposes without fee, permission, or acknowledgment. Copyright conditions may differ in other countries.)
August Strindberg's Plays August Strindberg (1849-912) vies with Henrik Ibsen for the title of Scandinavia's foremost playwright, yet the two are very different. In the shift to Modernism, Ibsen was a Realist debating problem with a clear, logical mind. Opposite him, Strindberg said about himself: "I am not a Realist. I write best when I hallucinate." While both authors became immediately popular internationally, one thing the two did share was hostility from home country audiences at the time their works were released. Similar to Ibsen's, Strindberg's works remain popular today and continue to be performed worldwide. Considered the "father of modern Swedish literature," Strindberg — a sensitive person and a controversial writer — was a Swedish playwright, novelist, painter, short-story writer, and essayist. A prolific writer who usually drew upon personal experiences, his career spanned four decades. During this time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography, history, cultural analysis, and political works. Along with self-analysis, his themes combined psychology, naturalism, and literary experimentation. Two of his plays are available from Rural Route Bookstore: Miss Julie and The Father. (These are unabridged versions, and may be used in the U.S. — in entirety or in adaptations — for theatrical purposes without fee, permission, or acknowledgment. Copyright conditions may differ in other countries.)
Scandinavian Sagas and Eddas  Heimskringla by Snorre Sturlason Ed. Erling Monsen, Tr. A H SmithSnorre (Snorri) Sturluson or Sturleson, 1178–1241, was an Icelandic chieftain, historian, poet, critic, saga teller, and the leading figure in medieval Norse literature. By combining traditional legend with historical information, his great epic, Heimskringla, recounts the history of Norway, and chronicles the reigns of 16 high kings descended from the warrior-wizard god Odin. Beginning with the dim prehistory of mythical gods and their descendants, this classic recounts the history from legendary times to the twelfth century, 1177 specifically, and through the 15-year reign of Olaf Haraldsson, who became Norway's patron saint. Once found in most Norwegian and Icelandic homes and schools, Heimskringla influenced the thinking and literary style of Scandinavia over several centires and is still regarded as a national treasure. According to the literary journal, Modern Philolog, "Among the many contributions to world literature that ancient Iceland has given us, Heimskringla stands out as one of the truly monumental works. Among medieval European histories in the vernacular it has no equal." Based on early histories and oral tradition, this 832-page medieval account has been supplemented with over 130 illustrations and 5 maps. SA - 01 Paperback $24.95 The Eddas Like most early poetry, the Eddic poems were minstrel poems, passed orally from singer to singer, from skald to skald, and from poet to poet for centuries. These Eddas strongly influenced later day writers and musicians such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Richard Wagner. The Prose Edda: Tales from Norse Mythology by Snorri Sturluson tr. by A.G. Brodeur The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda or Snorri's Edda, is a treatise on the art of poetry and a compendium of Norse mythology. It is an Icelandic collection in sections, interspersed with parts of earlier skaldic and Eddic poetry. The Prose Edda cites various skaldic poems collected in The Poetic Edda as sources. The work is assumed to have been written around the year 1220 by the Icelandic scholar and historian, Snorri Sturluson (see book above).  SA - 02 Paperback $8.95 The Poetic Edda, a collection of poems in the Old Norse/Icelandic language, is from traditional sources, and thought to have been compiled around the 13th century, the same time as The Prose Edda. None of the poems in The Poetic Edda are attributed to a particular author. The poems are likely the work of individual skalds, and — despite much research and debates — the author is always listed as Anonymous. The volume with the mythological poems, commonly called the Lays of the Gods, contains 14 lengthy poems/sagas. The Heroic Poems, the Lays of the Heroes, contains 21 long poems and is a companion to the volume with the mythological poems.
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