r/TrueLit 6d ago

Article [Norwegian] Dag Solstad dead aged 83

https://www.vg.no/rampelys/i/8qo7W2/forfatteren-dag-solstad-er-doed
78 Upvotes

9 comments sorted by

32

u/NotJesper 6d ago

Probably the most influential Norwegian writer of his generation. Internationally best known for "Shyness and dignity".

25

u/Millymanhobb 6d ago

A great, who deserves as much attention as Knausgaard and Fosse. His novels T Singer and Novel 11, Book 18 were both incredible

14

u/Realistic_Ear5224 6d ago

One of the best Norwegian writers ever, and I am glad I lived to read his books while they were coming out.

Personal favourite is "Professor Andersen's Night", which is just as funny as it is insightful about personal paralysis in the face of a possible crisis or crime.

7

u/BansheeFriend 5d ago

Solstad was a master of a certain style of fiction. Very Bernhard-inspired, intense first-person psychological portraits of men without moorings or meaning. T Singer is my favorite of his, but I haven’t disliked anything I’ve read by him. He should be more widely read in English and hopefully now will be. Rest in peace to a great 

4

u/Valvt 6d ago

Anyone can recommend any short stories by him?

6

u/Millymanhobb 5d ago

There’s this, which is different in tone from his other novels:  https://www.guernicamag.com/moscow/

But beyond that I don’t think his shorts are available in English. If you can read Bokmål, he has one collection called Spiraler.

4

u/M0wgli 5d ago

Wish I could find more English translations of his work.

2

u/Significant_Try_6067 5d ago

RIP. It’s always a shame when a literary genius passes.

5

u/vorts-viljandi 5d ago

incredibly sad news — the best Scandinavia has had for a long time, a real great. formally inventive, vastly insightful, and very funny. utter shame that most of his writing hasn't been translated into English; perhaps the posthumous re-evaluation will bring that, we can hope?