Against Art

(The Notebooks)

Espedal Tomas

In contemporary Norwegian fiction Tomas Espedal's work stands out as uniquely personal; it can be difficult to separate the fiction from Espedal's own experiences. In that vein, his novel "Against Art" is not just the story of a boy growing up to be a writer, but it is also the story of writing. Specifically, it is about the profession of writing – the routines, responsibility, and obstacles. Yet, "Against Art" is also about being a father, a son, and a grandson; about a family and a family's tales, and about how preceding generations mark their successors. It is at once about choices and changes, about motion and rest, about moving to a new place, and about living.

About the Author

Tomas Espedal is the author of several novels and prose collections, including "Tramp", also published by Seagull Books.

Reviews

"One of the most beautiful, most important books I've read for years" – Klassekampen

"Espedal has written an amazingly rich novel, which will assuredly stand out as one of the year's best and will also further fortify the quality of Norwegian literature abroad" – Adresseavisen

"'Against Art' attacks literature while at the same time being intensely literary. Our greatest sorrows and torments, the individual experiences often so anemic in art, find a voice of their own" – Morgenbladet

"'Against Art' moves me with its maternal history and proves yet again that Tomas Espedal writes great novels" – Dag og Tid

Back to the list of books