Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nordic Prize include Per Petterson (b 1952) and Lars Saabye Christensen (b 1953). Anoth-
er world-renowned author is Jostein Gaarder (b 1952), whose first best-selling novel,
Sophie's World
(1991), sold over 15 million copies worldwide. Dag Solstad (b 1941) is the
only Norwegian author to win the Norwegian Literary Critics' Award three times.
In the crime-fiction genre, Gunnar Staalesen and Karin Fossum have devoted interna-
tional followings. But it's Jo Nesbø (jonesbo.com/en) who is considered the king of Nor-
wegian crime fiction. His stories are darker than many in the genre and are almost all set in
Norway from World War II to the present.
Music
Classical Music
The 19th century was an extraordinarily rich time for Norwegian music. It was at this time
that Edvard Grieg, who is regarded as one of history's greatest composers, emerged. Of ar-
guably equal importance was the virtuoso violinist Ole Bull, known throughout Europe as
the 'Nordic Paganini'. Bull is credited with critically encouraging the careers of Edvard
Grieg and Henrik Ibsen, bringing the Hardanger folk fiddlers to Bergen concert halls and
reviving Europe-wide interest in Norwegian folk music.
There are fine philharmonic orchestras in Oslo, Bergen (dating from 1765), Trondheim
and Stavanger; the Norwegian Opera Company (established in 1958) is based in Oslo.
