SELECTED TITLE

Lars Petter Sveen
The Art of Stuttering – Without Anyone Noticing

In the autumn of 2021, author Lars Petter Sveen faints on stage in Oslo while doing a reading. Upon regaining consciousness, his first thought is: “Did anyone hear me stutter?”

He fears that he has revealed himself.

His quest to understand why he passed out takes him back to fourth grade, when he stood on stage at a school Christmas party and couldn’t get out a single word.

Ever since he was a child, he has tried to avoid certain situations, words, and phrases. Stuttering is still stigmatized in our society, and Sveen writes about how he found his own way of speaking. His primary objective? To hide his stutter.

How we speak, and how our voice is perceived by others, defines who we are. What happens when your voice gets stuck and your words won’t come out? The Art of Stuttering is a personal, funny, and deeply moving story of coming to grips with a secret shame.

'Strangely enough, there are hardly any books about people who stutter. In this sense, Sveen’s biographical account is sensational and unique. (…) Sveen shows us that the most private and shameful thing can make for the strongest narrative.'

Dagsavisen

'In the age of personal non-fiction, this naked self seems almost revolutionary. (…) The process of presenting a voice "full of cracks" is no easy task, but Sveen succeeds, both privately and literary.'

Klassekampen

Lars Petter Sveen

Lars Petter Sveen
Tine Poppe

Lars Petter Sveen (b. 1981) made his debut with the short story collection Driving from Fræna in 2008 and got his big breakthrough in 2014 with his third novel Children of God for which he was awarded the prestigious P.O. Enquist Prize in 2016. The book is so far sold to six countries.
The Art of Stuttering is Sveen’s first non-fiction title.

Foreign rights

Oslo Literary Agency
[email protected]
+47 936 06 465
www.osloliteraryagency.no

Edited September 21, 2022 by Oslo Literary Agency