.jpg "Who is John Fosse?, Early Life, Education, Family and Nobel Prize 2023")
Who is Jon Fosse
Jon Olav Fosse, born on September 29, 1959, is a highly regarded Norwegian author and playwright. His exceptional contributions to both literature and the dramatic arts were duly recognized in the year 2023 when he was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Nobel committee bestowed this prestigious accolade upon him "in recognition of his groundbreaking plays and prose, which possess the remarkable ability to express the unspoken."
Fosse holds the distinction of being the most frequently staged Norwegian playwright, following in the footsteps of the legendary Henrik Ibsen. Many scholars have even likened him to the "modern Ibsen" due to his seamless continuation of the dramatic traditions established by Ibsen during the 19th century.
| Name | Jon Fosse |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jon Olav Fosse |
| Birth | 29 September 1959 |
| Birthplace | Haugesund, Norway |
| Father | Not specified |
| Mother | Not specified |
| Wife | Second wife is Slovak |
| Children | Not specified |
| Profession | Author and Dramatist |
| Age | As of 2023, he is 64 years old |
| Citizenship | Norwegian |
| Awards | Nobel Prize in Literature (2023) |
Biography: Jon Fosse
Jon Fosse, a distinguished Norwegian writer, was born in Haugesund, Norway, and spent his formative years in Strandebarm. His path to adulthood and his writing career were profoundly influenced by a life-altering incident at the age of seven, which brought him perilously close to death.
Driven by his passion for literature, Fosse enrolled at the University of Bergen, where he immersed himself in the study of comparative literature. This academic pursuit laid the foundation for his literary journey, during which he chose to write in Nynorsk, one of the two recognized written standards of the Norwegian language.
In 1983, Fosse marked his literary debut with the publication of "Raudt, svart" (Red, Black), his first novel. His venture into the realm of drama began in 1994 when his play "Og aldri skal vi skiljast" (And We'll Never Be Parted) was performed and subsequently published.
Throughout his illustrious career, Fosse's creative output spanned a wide array of literary forms, including novels, short stories, poetry, children's books, essays, and plays. His literary impact transcended linguistic boundaries, as his works found translation into more than forty languages.
Beyond his literary pursuits, Fosse was a musician, skilled in playing the fiddle. During his teenage years, he honed his writing skills by composing original lyrics for musical pieces, showcasing his multifaceted artistic talents.
Recognition
Jon Fosse's remarkable career has earned him significant recognition and honors:
Fosse is celebrated as the most frequently performed Norwegian playwright after Henrik Ibsen, often referred to as the "new Henrik Ibsen." His works are seen as a contemporary continuation of the dramatic tradition initiated by Ibsen in the 19th century.
In 2003, he was appointed as a Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite of France.
Fosse holds the distinction of being ranked 83rd on The Daily Telegraph's list of the Top 100 living geniuses.
Since 2011, Fosse has been granted the Grotten, an honorary residence within the Royal Palace premises in Oslo, a special honor bestowed by the King of Norway in recognition of his contributions to Norwegian arts and culture.
Fosse served as a vital literary consultant for Bibel 2011, a Norwegian translation of the Bible published in 2011.
His exceptional trilogy, consisting of "Andvake" (Wakefulness), "Olavs draumar" (Olav's Dreams), and "Kveldsvævd" (Weariness), earned him the prestigious Nordic Council's Literature Prize in 2015.
Fosse's works have gained global reach, with numerous translations into Persian by Mohammad Hamed and performances on the main stages in Tehran, Iran.
His novel "A New Name: Septology VI-VII," translated into English by Damion Searls, was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in April 2022. Moreover, it emerged as a finalist for the 2023 National Book Critics Circle Award in Fiction.
In October 2023, Jon Fosse was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature, marking the pinnacle of his literary achievements.
Personal Life
In his personal life, Jon Fosse divides his time between different places and has undergone significant personal changes:
Part of his time is spent with his second wife, who is Slovak, in Hainburg an der Donau, Austria. Additionally, he maintains a residence in Bergen and owns two homes in western Norway.
Originally, Fosse was affiliated with the Church of Norway, although he described himself as an atheist before 2012. However, in the years 2012 to 2013, he made a profound shift by joining the Catholic Church.
In an effort to address his long-standing struggle with alcohol consumption, Fosse took the step of voluntarily hospitalizing himself for rehabilitation. This decision reflects his commitment to personal well-being and recovery.
Award and Honors
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Aschehoug Prize |
| 1998 | Nynorsk Literature Prize |
| 1999 | Dobloug Prize |
| 2003 | Norsk kulturråds ærespris (citation needed) |
| 2003 | Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite of France |
| 2005 | Brage Prize (citation needed) |
| 2005 | Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (citation needed) |
| 2007 | The Swedish Academy Nordic Prize |
| 2007 | The Federal Ministry of Family Affairs' Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis |
| 2010 | The Ibsen Award |
| 2014 | European Prize for Literature |
| 2015 | Nordic Council Literature Prize |
| 2023 | Nobel Prize in Literature |
| Plays | |
|---|---|
| Nokon kjem til å komme (written in 1992–93; first produced in 1996). Someone Is Going to Come Home | |
| Og aldri skal vi skiljast (1994). And We'll Never Be Parted | |
| Namnet (1995). The Name | |
| Barnet (1996). The Child | |
| Mor og barn (1997). Mother and Child | |
| Sonen (1997). The Son | |
| Natta syng sine songar (1997). Nightsongs, trans. Gregory Motton (2002) | |
| Gitarmannen (1999). The Guitar Man | |
| Ein sommars dag (1999). A Summer's Day | |
| Draum om hausten (1999). Dream of Autumn | |
| Sov du vesle barnet mitt (2000). Sleep My Baby Sleep | |
| Besøk (2000). Visits | |
| Vinter (2000). Winter | |
| Ettermiddag (2000). Afternoon | |
| Vakkert (2001). Beautiful | |
| Dødsvariasjonar (2001). Death Variations | |
| Jenta i sofaen (2002). The Girl on the Sofa, trans. David Harrower (2002) | |
| Lilla (2003). Lilac | |
| Suzannah (2004) | |
| Dei døde hundane (2004). The Dead Dogs, trans. May-Brit Akerholt (2014) | |
| Sa ka la (2004) | |
| Varmt (2005). Warm | |
| Svevn (2005). Sleep | |
| Rambuku (2006) | |
| Skuggar (2006). Shadows | |
| Eg er vinden (2007). I Am the Wind, trans. Simon Stephens (2012) | |
| Desse auga (2009). These Eyes | |
| Compilations in English | |
| Plays One (2002). Someone Is Going to Come Home; The Name; The Guitar Man; The Child | |
| Plays Two (2004). A Summer's Day; Dream of Autumn; Winter | |
| Plays Three (2004). Mother and Child; Sleep My Baby Sleep; Afternoon; Beautiful; Death Variations | |
| Plays Four (2005). And We'll Never Be Parted; The Son; Visits; Meanwhile the lights go down and everything becomes black | |
| Plays Five (2011). Suzannah; Living Secretly; The Dead Dogs; A Red Butterfly's Wings; Warm; Telemakos; Sleep | |
| Plays Six (2014). Rambuku; Freedom; Over There; These Eyes |
