Forføreren; Erobreren; Oppdageren

Jonas Wergeland trilogy #1-3

by Jan Kjærstad

Forføreren: Jonas Wergeland finner sin kone død på stuegulvet. Fra han oppdager henne til han tar av telefonen for å ringe politiet, følger vi Jonas gjennom barndom, ungdom og til det han er en stor kunstner.
Erobreren: Jonas sitter inne for drap på sin kone. Men er han den skyldige i denne handlingen?
Oppdageren: Jonas har blitt løslatt fra fengselet og befinner seg om bord på Colin-Archer skøyta Voyager sammen med blant annet datteren Kristin. Gjennom denne rammefortellingen følges Jonas' liv opp. Denne romanen ble tildelt Nordisk Råds litteraturpris i 2001.

Genres: Fiction, 21st Century, Roman, Contemporary

1536 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Jan Kjærstad is a Norwegian author. Kjærstad is a theology graduate from MF Norwegian School of Theology and the University of Oslo.
He has written a string of novels, short stories and essays and was editor of the literary magazine Vinduet ("The Window"). He has received a number of prizes, the most important being the Nordic Council Literature Prize, which he received for the perspectivist trilogy about the TV personality Jonas Wergeland (The Seducer, The Conqueror and The Discoverer).
Kjærstad's books are complex and humorous, showing an outstanding ability to visualize modern life and its many interdependencies, reminiscent of a less computer-focused Neal Stephenson. His books have been translated to English, French, German, Danish, Swedish, and Hungarian, among others.

Reviews

[G.R. Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to take this opportunity to deny the persistent rumor that one of Jonas Wergeland's women is based on me. Even though I have known Jan Kjærstad for some time, our relationship is entirely platonic. When we meet (not often enough!), we usually spend our time arguing about Dante and medieval theology.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly, my exposure to norwegian literature is limited, but imo, nothing more sublime has ever been written in my mother tongue. It is undoubtedly a masterpiece, unique both in its form and its content. Kjærstad brought me to similar heights as Zarathustra and Moby-Dick did, outcompeting Knausgård's Min Kamp series, which was my Norwegian favorite previous to this. As a piece of literature, this trilogy is complete, there is an inexplicable depth, with layers upon layers upon layers. Yet, Kjærstad managed to keep a clear thread throughout it all. Do not miss out on this one - og les den på norsk om du kan!

[Marie-louise Mulligan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stream of consciousness writing does wear on you in the end. But at times it was a very funny book - really - laughed out loud in airport! That does take something for me to do that.

[Olaf Alexander Styrmoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtakingly brilliant!