Tomas Espedal
In contemporary Norwegian fiction Tomas Espedal´s work stands out as uniquely bound up with the author´s personal experiences. Tramp (2006) introduced us to the wanderer Tomas. Against Art (2009) is a novel that focuses on the author; on how a boy approaches art and eventually becomes a writer. It is about the profession of writing, about routines, responsibility and obstacles. Against Nature (2011) is an examination of factory work, love’s labour, the job of writing. And drawn between his home town and the outer world, Espedal wrote Bergeners (2013).
Tomas Espedal (born 1961) made his debut in 1988. A graduate of the University of Bergen, he has published both novels and short prose collections. In 1991 he won an award from the joint Radio P2/Book Club Novelists´ competition for She and I. Founder of the Bergen International Poetry Festival, Espedal’s later works explore the relationship between the novel and other genres such as essays, letters, diaries, autobiographies and travelogue. Espedal’s Tramp (Or the art of living a wild and poetic life) (2006), Against Art (2009) and Bergeners (2013) have all been nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize. The author was awarded the Literary Critics’ Prize in 2009.
Quotes from reviews:
«Why is Norwegian literature so exciting these days? The answer may be found in Tomas Espedal's new book about Bergen and books ... like many Norwegian writers he dares to be both naive and intellectual at the same time ... Espedal manages, effortlessly and without pretentions, to be at once very Norwegian and very international.»
Politiken, Denmark
«Tomas Espedal has a personally centred literary project that he pursues and expands with fascinating force and consistency.»
Stavanger Aftenblad
«A lyrical style that captures both fleeting and enduring moments of happiness, but dwells to an even greater extent on the loss and grief that will and must follow. Espedal's writing sparkles, some of his lines shine out, rich in association.»
Aftenposten
Nominated for the Nordic Council's Literary Prize 2007, 2010 and 2014
Longlisted for the IMPAC Prize 2012
Winner of the Brage Prize 2011
Winner of the Critics' Prize 2009
Winner of the Gyldendal Prize 2009
Winner of the Bergen Prize 2006
FOREIGN SALES AND SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Year (2016)
Denmark, Batzer
Germany, Matthes & Seitz
UK/US/India, Seagull
Bergeners (2013)
Denmark, Batzer
France, Actes Sud
Germany, Matthes & Seitz
Sweden, Lindelöws
UK/US/India, Seagull
Against Nature (2011)
Bulgaria, Perseus
Croatia, Fidipid
Denmark, Batzer
France, Actes Sud
Germany, Matthes & Seitz
Hungary, Typotex
Israel, Locus Publishing House
Italy, Ponte alle Grazie
Korea, Open Books
the Netherlands, Uitgeverij Wereldbibliotheek
Serbia, Carobna Knijga
Turkey, Miklagard World
UK/US/India, Seagull
Against Art (2009)
Bulgaria, Perseus
Croatia, Fidipid
Czech Republic, Havran
Denmark, Batzer
Egypt, Golden Pony
France, Actes Sud
Germany, Matthes & Seitz
Hungary, Typotex
the Netherlands, Uitgeverij Wereldbibliotheek
Russia, Corpus
Serbia, Carobna Knijga
Spain, Lengua de Trapo
Sweden, Lindelöws
UK/US/India, Seagull
Tramp. Or the art of living a wild and poetic life. (2006)
Czech Republic, Havran
Denmark, Batzer
France, Actes Sud
Germany, Matthes & Seitz
Iceland, Bjartur
Italy, Ponte alle Grazie
Poland, Draft
Russia, Corpus
Spain, Siruela
Sweden, Lindelöws
UK/US/India, Seagull Portugal, Editora Figuradoso
Letters. An attempt. (2005)
Brazil, Ateia
Denmark, Batzer
The Faroe Islands, Sprotin
France, Actes Sud
Germany, Matthes & Seitz Portugal, Niuton Luis Fagundes da Silva
Diary. Epitaphs. (2003)
Denmark, Batzer
The Faroe Islands, Sprotin
Germany, Matthes & Seitz
Biography. Forgetfulness. (1999)
Denmark, Batzer
The Faroe Islands, Sprotin
Germany, Matthes & Seitz
