Tora is the child of a Norwegian mother and a German soldier who died during the war. She lives a life in the shadows of her mother's shame and sorrow and is always afraid of her stepfather's aggressive hands. In this way she has experiences there are no words to cover.
The Tora trilogy contributes to a Norwegian realistic tradition about the coming of age of the unusual and artistic child. However, the voice of Ms Wassmo has a particular poetic and evocative power and her knowledge of the human mind is impressive. In the Tora trilogy she describes the disintegration of the small human being and her fight for dignity.
Herbjørg Wassmo
Photo: Rolf M. Aagaard
Herbjørg Wassmo (b. 1942) made her début in 1976 with a collection of poetry. Her breakthrough came with the first novel about Tora, The House with the Blind Glass Windows (Huset med den blinde glassveranda) 1981, followed by two volumes forming the Tora Trilogy. These books contribute to a Norwegian realistic tradition about the coming of age of the unusual and artistic child.
The voice of Mrs. Wassmo has a poetic and evocative power, taking the reader very close to the disintegration of the small human being and her fight for dignity.
Rights sold to
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Island, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, USA
Other titles
(Selected)
These Moments (2013)
A Glass of Milk Please (2006)
The Dina trilogy:Karna´s Legacy (1997), Dina´s Son (1992), Dina´s Book (1989)
The Tora trilogy: The House with the Blind Glass Windows (1981), The Silent Room (1983), Raw Sky (1986)
Foreign rights
Gyldendal Agency
Tel: +47 22 03 41 00
[email protected]
www.gyldendal.no
Awards
(Selected)
2011: Ordre National des Arts et Lettres
2010: The Honorable Brage Prize
2007: Order of St Olav, Knight, First Class
2004: Eeva Joenpelto’s International Prize
2001: The Norwegian Readers’ Prize
1998: The Jean Monnét- Prize (France)
1997: The Amalie Skram Prize
1991: The Gyldendal legacy
1987: The Nordic Literary Council’s Prize
1983: The Booksellers’ Prize
1981: The Literary Critics’ Prize
