A New Name — WINNER OF THE 2023 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE
Septology VI-VII
(Author) Jon FosseAsle is an ageing painter and widower who lives alone on the southwest coast of Norway. His only friends are his neighbour, Åsleik, a traditional fisherman-farmer, and Beyer, a gallerist who lives in the city. There, in Bjørgvin, lives another Asle, also a painter but lonely and consumed by alcohol. Asle and Asle are doppelgängers - two versions of the same person, two versions of the same life, both grappling with existential questions. In this final instalment of Jon Fosse's Septology, the major prose work by 'the Beckett of the twenty-first century' (Le Monde), Christmas is approaching. Tradition has it that Åsleik and Asle eat lutefisk together, but this year Asle has agreed for the first time to celebrate Christmas with Åsleik and his sister, Guro. On Christmas Eve, Åsleik, Asle, and the dog Bragi take Åsleik's boat out on the Sygnefjord. Meanwhile, we follow the lives of the two Asles as younger adults in flashbacks: the narrator meets his lifelong love, Ales; joins the Catholic Church; starts exhibiting with Beyer; and can make a living by trying to paint away all the pictures stuck in his mind. After a while, Asle and Ales leave the city and move to the house in Dylgja. The other Asle gets married too, but his wedding ends with a sobbing bride and is followed soon after by a painful breakup. Written in melodious and hypnotic 'slow prose', A New Name: Septology VI-VII is a transcendent exploration of the human condition by Jon Fosse, and a radically other reading experience - incantatory, hypnotic, and utterly unique.
Jon Fosse
Jon Fosse is a Norwegian playwright, novelist, and poet known for his sparse and poetic writing style. His works often explore themes of isolation, loss, and the complexity of human relationships. Fosse's most notable works include the play "Nightsongs," the novel "Melancholy," and the play "A Summer's Day."
Fosse's writing style is characterized by its minimalist language and intense emotional depth, drawing comparisons to the works of Samuel Beckett and Ingmar Bergman. His contributions to literature have had a significant impact on contemporary Norwegian literature, earning him numerous awards and accolades.
One of Fosse's most famous works is the play "Someone is Going to Come," which delves into the intricacies of love, desire, and betrayal. Fosse's unique voice and profound exploration of the human condition have solidified his reputation as one of the most important voices in Scandinavian literature today.
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