Most Popular Books by Knut Hamsun

"Hunger" has been hailed as the literary opening of the 20th century and an outstanding example of modern, psychology-driven literature. "Hunger" portrays the irrationality of the human mind in an intriguing and sometimes humorous manner. The novel is loosely based on the author''s own impoverished life before his breakthrough in 1890. Set in late 19th-century Kristiania (now Oslo), "Hunger" recounts the adventures of a starving young man whose sense of reality is giving way to a delusionary existence on the darker side of a modern metropolis.

Pan is an 1894 novel by Norwegian author Knut Hamsun. He wrote it while living in Paris and in Kristiansand, Norway. It remains one of his most famous works. Lieutenant Thomas Glahn, a hunter and ex-military man, lives alone in a hut in the forest with his faithful dog Aesop. Upon meeting Edvarda, the daughter of a merchant in a nearby town, they are both strongly attracted to each other, but neither understands the other''s love.

The Nobel Prize winner’s poetic, psychologically intense portrayal of love’s predicament in a class-bound society A Penguin Classic Set in a coastal village of late nineteenth-century Norway, Victoria follows two lovers whose yearnings are as powerful as the circumstances that conspire to thwart their romance. Johannes, a miller’s son turned poet, finds inspiration for his writing in his passionate devotion to Victoria, a daughter of the impoverished lord of the manor, who feels constrained by family loyalty to accept the wealthy young man of her father’s choice. Separated by class barriers and social pressure, the fated duo hurt and enthrall each other by turns as they move toward an emotional doom that neither will recognize until it is too late. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,800 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Hamsun''s attempt to prove his soundness of mind after his sanity was called into question. Writing at the age of 90 it was his last literary work. The short novel is part a fiction pamphlet, part diary, part old man''s apologia and part protest at the court ruling in his 1948 trial, that determined he had "permanently impaired mental abilities".

Ove Rolandsen, the telegraph operator in an isolated fishing village in northern Norway, is a man of sudden passions, a cheerful rogue fond of girls and alcohol. He constantly hatches ambitious schemes to the despair of his fiancée, Marie, housekeeper at the vicarage. When a plan to manufacture glue from fish waste lands him in trouble, is his feckless career over or could fortune, for once, be on his side? Knut Hamsun is recognised as one of the greatest literary figures of the twentieth century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1920 for Growth of the Soil.

Shallow Soil is a novel that examines the complex human interactions and struggles for power in a rural context. Hamsun depicts life in a small Norwegian village, where characters confront their own desires, frustrations, and longings. Through a psychological approach, the work reveals the tension between individual impulses and social expectations, as well as the difficulties of everyday life. Since its publication, Shallow Soil has been recognized for its innovative style and deep analysis of human psychology. Hamsun uses poetic and evocative language to explore the inner lives of his characters, giving them palpable humanity. The novel addresses themes such as alienation, identity, and the struggle for authenticity in a world that often seems hostile. The work remains relevant for its representation of human vulnerability and its critiques of oppressive social structures. By examining the dynamics of power in interpersonal relationships, Shallow Soil offers reflections on the search for meaning and belonging that resonate in contemporary society.

First published one hundred years ago, and now translated into English for the first time, In Wonderland is a diaristic account of a trip Hamsun took to Russia at the turn of the century. This detailed travelogue is a rich and loving portrait of the people and culture of Russia, and is filled with the trademark style and keen observations of the author of such classic as Hunger and Growth of the Soil. In Wonderland is unlike any other book by Hamsun, and offers not only an intimate glimpse into the mind of the Nobel Prize-winning author, but also a rare view of pre-revolutionary Russia.

The Last Joy is the final part in Hamsun''s Wanderer Trilogy. With its richly varied contents, this work combines the lyricism of Hamsun''s Pan (1894) and the epic scope of his Nobel prize-winning Growth of the Soil (1917). The middle-aged narrator of this story is a Hamsun double, who leaves the wild, where he has lived in a turf hut, for a tourist resort and, later, the city, where he contacts Miss Torsen, a beautiful young school teacher he met at the resort. He follows her sexual escapades, including rape, with the intense, vicarious interest of a voyeur.

"In Under the Autumn Star, Nobel prize-winning author Knut Hamsun writes a novel magically permeated with the air and light of fall. The narrator, Knut Pedersen (Hamsun''s real name) first joins forces with Grindhusen, a man blessed with the faith that "something will turn up," and later with Lars Falkenberg, whose dubious talents include the tuning of pianos. Knut and Lars fetch up as workmen on the estate of Captain Falkenberg (no relation to Lars), with whose wife each falls or fancies himself in love - though this does not prevent either from doing "night duties" in other quarters. In time, Knut is laid off and, in futile pursuit of the woman with whom he is by now helplessly infatuated, finds himself sucked back into the city life he had fled."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Last Chapter is set in the Torahus sanatorium, where the sufferings of most of the patients are related to civilisation. The novel has a group of central characters, but no distinct main character. Among the characters is "The Suicide", who entered the sanatorium following the discovery of his wife’s infidelity and threatens constantly to take his own life. Another guest is the lovely Julie d''Espard. She enters into a relationship with the bogus Count Flemming and gets pregnant. When Flemming disappears one day she turns to Daniel Utby, who runs a small farm near Torahus and who represents the novel’s ideological norm. The Last Chapter is one of Hamsun’s darkest novels. It was written at a time when he was much preoccupied by death. The novel is often compared with Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain, which was published the year after.

Growth of the Soil, Knut Hamsun''s Nobel Prize winning novel, is an abiding classic of Scandinavian literature. At the time it was published, the literary world was in the throes of shifting to a modernist style. Popular novels were set in the contemporary present, with technological and societal advancements forming part of the narrative backdrop. Growth of the Soil openly displays the conflicts between the old traditions of agrarian society, and the ever-mounting wonders and conveniences offered by modern society. The farmer Isak scarcely acknowledges the values of modern living. Illiterate but capable of carrying out the business of running a farm, he has physical strength and works with his hands. Although initially amazed by Isak''s prowess - his wife Inger, who came into contact with modern society when imprisoned for killing her infant due to its birth defect, return to the home much less impressed by the country life.

Knut Hamsun''s "Look Back on Happiness" is a poignant exploration of memory, nostalgia, and the intertwined nature of personal and societal happiness. Written in Hamsun''s characteristic stream-of-consciousness style, the narrative seamlessly weaves the protagonist''s reflections on past joys with broader existential themes. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Norway, the book delves into the complexities of human emotion, blurring the line between recollection and reality. Through vivid imagery and rich psychological insights, Hamsun crafts a tale that resonates with the universal quest for meaning amidst the fleeting nature of happiness. Knut Hamsun, a Nobel Prize-winning author, is renowned for his deep psychological character studies and innovative narrative techniques. Born into a challenging environment, Hamsun''s early experiences of poverty and subsequent engagement with the bohemian literary scene profoundly influenced his perspective on life and literature. His varied experiences, including travels across Europe, provided a rich tapestry of cultural context that informs his writing, culminating in works that deeply examine the human psyche, as evident in this reflective piece. "Look Back on Happiness" is highly recommended for readers seeking an intimate journey through human emotions and memories. Hamsun''s masterful prose invites contemplation on the very essence of happiness and the bittersweet nature of reminiscence, making it a profound read for anyone fascinated by the intricacies of life and literature.

Hunger (Norwegian: Sult) is a novel by the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun published in 1890. Extracts from the work had previously been published anonymously in the Danish magazine Ny Jord in 1888. The novel has been hailed as the literary opening of the 20th century and an outstanding example of modern, psychology-driven literature. Hunger portrays the irrationality of the human mind in an intriguing and sometimes humorous manner.

A new edition of Hamsun''s charming novel, related in subject and characters to Under the Autumn Star (Sun & Moon Press).

«Nunca el Premio Nobel se ha dado a alguien que lo merezca tanto como Knut Hamsun» THOMAS MANN. Un extranjero llega un día a una pequeña ciudad costera de Noruega. Inmediatamente traba amistad con un loco para que le enseñe los secretos del lugar, quiénes son los hombres y las mujeres que viven en él. El extranjero se enamorará, indagará en las vidas ajenas, convertirá cada hecho cotidiano en una interrogación, en un misterio que acabará por convertirse en la clave de un porvenir que no dejará de recordarle. Pocos libros permiten a su lector entrar en el alma de su creador como Misterios, la novela que anticipó los temas que llevarían la obra de Knut Hamsun a una de las cumbres de la literatura nórdica y a su autor a recibir, en 1920, el Premio Nobel de Literatura.

"They had met during their younger days, he and the widow of Theodore paa Bua. The original fusion of their passion had taken place during a golden opportunity out in the berry field--she had given him a certain look upon leaving the house and he had gone a round-about way and met her. Violence--violence and violation, but so welcome, so unimpeachable. Ay, and their affair had continued without interruption throughout two whole summers and one winter. When they parted, they had had good cause to remember each other and when they met again they had neither of them changed; they were the same mad lovers they had been during their earliest youth."--Goodreads

In this Norwegian saga of restlessness, Hamsun presents young Edevart, a headstrong boy ill at ease with books, but fiercely self-determined and eager to escape his poor village of Polden. He becomes a close friend of August, a man-orphan, rootless, who sings fantastic tales of a wondrous world. In their years of seafaring, peddling, and raucous-raising - sometimes together, sometimes separated - Edevart grows in understanding, becoming a cunning businessman, experiencing the exhilaration and devastation of love and learning to enjoy the freedom of his wandering lifestyle. Nobel prize winner Hamsun expertly weaves the clashing ideologies - the draw of a comfortable home and the excitement of adventure and the sea - with Edevart''s own picaresque, as it drifts between restlessness and a peaceful happiness.

"Mothwise," by Nobel laureate Knut Hamsun, is a powerful work of Norwegian literature, exploring the depths of the human psyche against the backdrop of Scandinavia. As a master of psychological fiction, Hamsun delves into the intricate workings of the mind. This meticulously prepared print edition presents a timeless exploration of the human condition, set in the heart of Norway. A significant contribution to Nordic literary fiction, "Mothwise" offers readers a glimpse into a world of complex characters and enduring themes. It stands as a testament to Hamsun''s skill as a literary figure, and its themes resonate across cultures and generations. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

"On Overgrown Paths" was written after World War II, at a time when Hamsun was in police custody for his openly expressed Nazi sympathies during the German occupation of Norway, 1940-45. A Nobel laureate deeply beloved by his countrymen, Hamsun was now reviled as a traitor--as long as his sanity was not called into question. "On Overgrown Paths" is Hamsun''s apologia. However, the psychiatric report declared him to be sane, but concluded that his mental faculties were "permanently impaired." This conclusion was emphatically refuted by the publication, in 1949, of "On Overgrown Paths," Hamsun''s apologia. In its creative elan, this book, filled with the proud sorrow of an old man, miraculously recalls the spirit of Hamsun''s early novels, with their reverence for nature, absurdist humor, and quirky flights of fancy. This edition is the first authoritative English translation of Hamsun''s last work, a work which stood at the center of the recent film "Hamsun." Knut Hamsun was the greatest 20th century Norwegian novelist, winner of the Nobel Prize, and enormously beloved when the country was occupied in World War II. During the war, however, his wife, a supporter of Quisling and the Nazis, traveled across the country reading from his work, particularly "Growth of the Soil," which seemed to support notions of agrarian return by a superior Aryan peasant class. Old and confused, Hamsun traveled to Germany to meet with Hitler, hoping, he claimed, to change the conditions of occupation in Norway. The meeting ended disastrously, and after the war, Hamsun was arrested for his Nazi sympathy. As this book reveals, however, Hamsun was anything by mentally disturbed. It is a sad and tragic book filled with pained sorrow of an old man, great in stature and contribution, but completely out of touch with his own time.