Jo Nesbø
Encyclopedia
Jo Nesbø is an Edgar Award
nominated Norwegian
author
and musician
. As of September 2008 more than one and a half million copies of his novels have been sold in Norway, and his work has been translated into over forty languages.
Nesbø was born and currently lives in Oslo
but grew up in Molde
. He graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics with a degree in Economics
and Business Administration. Nesbø is primarily famous for his crime novels
about Detective Harry Hole
, but he is also the main vocalist and songwriter
for the Norwegian rock band Di Derre
. In 2007 Nesbø also released his first children's book, Doktor Proktors prompepulver (English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder).
After the international world was shocked by the violence in 2011 with the Anders Breivik massacre, Nesbø penned a piece arguing the crime should forever change Norwegian crime writing. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/24/breivik-crime-writing
. He has also tried his hand at writing children's books. He was a talented footballer until he broke his ankle and had to concentrate on another aspect of his life.
The ruthless twins Truls and Trym Thrane sometime lurk in the background. This series is reminiscent of Roald Dahl
's books. It deals with "the importance of being who you are and the ability of human creativity and imagination to give you the courage to do so."
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
nominated Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. As of September 2008 more than one and a half million copies of his novels have been sold in Norway, and his work has been translated into over forty languages.
Nesbø was born and currently lives in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
but grew up in Molde
Molde
is a city and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Romsdal region. The municipality is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord...
. He graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics with a degree in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and Business Administration. Nesbø is primarily famous for his crime novels
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
about Detective Harry Hole
Harry Hole
Harry Hole is the main character in a series of, so far, nine crime novels written by Jo Nesbø. Hole is a classic loose cannon in the police force, with few close friends and some unorthodox methods.-Character:...
, but he is also the main vocalist and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
for the Norwegian rock band Di Derre
Di Derre
Di Derre is a Norwegian pop/rock band, founded in 1992. They were awarded the Gammleng-prisen in 1996.-Band members:*Jo Nesbø - vocals/guitar.*Knut Nesbø - vocals/guitar.*Espen Stenhammer - drums.*Magnus Larsen - bass guitar.-External links:* *...
. In 2007 Nesbø also released his first children's book, Doktor Proktors prompepulver (English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder).
After the international world was shocked by the violence in 2011 with the Anders Breivik massacre, Nesbø penned a piece arguing the crime should forever change Norwegian crime writing. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/24/breivik-crime-writing
Personal life
Jo Nesbø worked as a freelance journalist and a stockbroker before he began his writing career. The No.1 national bestseller, The Bat Man, is the first installment in the Harry Hole series. He sings and writes songs for the band Di DerreDi Derre
Di Derre is a Norwegian pop/rock band, founded in 1992. They were awarded the Gammleng-prisen in 1996.-Band members:*Jo Nesbø - vocals/guitar.*Knut Nesbø - vocals/guitar.*Espen Stenhammer - drums.*Magnus Larsen - bass guitar.-External links:* *...
. He has also tried his hand at writing children's books. He was a talented footballer until he broke his ankle and had to concentrate on another aspect of his life.
The Harry Hole series
The series follows Harry Hole, a tough detective working to solve crimes on the streets of Oslo. He takes on murderers, bank robbers, gangsters and the establishment. The Harry Hole novels are violent and often feature women in peril, as typified by Snowman.The Doktor Proktor series
Follows the story of Doctor Proctor, a crazy professor who is waiting for his big break, his next-door neighbor Lise and her peculiar friend Bulle.The ruthless twins Truls and Trym Thrane sometime lurk in the background. This series is reminiscent of Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
's books. It deals with "the importance of being who you are and the ability of human creativity and imagination to give you the courage to do so."
The Harry Hole novels
- 1997 – Flaggermusmannen: The Bat Man
- 1998 – Kakerlakkene: The CockroachesThe Cockroaches (novel)The Cockroaches is a crime novel by Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø, the second in the Harry Hole series.Here we can read about Harry's journey to Thailand, where he is asked to solve the murder of the Norwegian ambassador. As usual, he mingles among the shadier neighbourhoods and eventually realizes...
- 2000 – Rødstrupe; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Redbreast (2006)
- 2002 – Sorgenfri; English translation by Don Bartlett: Nemesis (2008)
- 2003 – Marekors; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Devil's Star (2005)
- 2005 – Frelseren; English translation by Don Bartlett: The RedeemerThe Redeemer (novel)The Redeemer is a novel by popular Norwegian crime-writer Jo Nesbø, it is an entry in his popular and critically acclaimed Harry Hole series.-Plot:The Redeemer begins a number of years in the past, at a youth camp run by the Norwegian Salvation Army...
(2009) - 2007 – Snømannen; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Snowman (2010)
- 2009 – Panserhjerte; English translation by Don Bartlett: The LeopardThe Leopard (Nesbø novel)The Leopard is a crime novel by Norwegian novelist, Jo Nesbø. Its Norwegian title is Panserhjerte, which does not directly translate to The Leopard; it rather means something along the lines of "armour heart." It is the seventh novel featuring Nesbø's crime detective, Inspector Harry...
(2011) - 2011 – Gjenferd; English translation: The Phantom (2012)
The Doktor Proktor novels
- 2007 – Doktor Proktors Prompepulver; English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder
- 2008 – Doktor Proktors Prompepulver: bubble i badekaret; English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder: Bubble in the Bathtub
- 2010 – Doktor Proktor og verdens undergang. Kanskje.; English translation: Doctor Proctor and the Destruction of the World. Maybe.
Stand-alone novels
- 1999 – Stemmer fra BalkanStemmer fra BalkanStemmer fra Balkan is a documentary book written by Jo Nesbø and Espen Søbye.In it they recount their experiences travelling to Serbia to write about the war that started on March 23, 1999. The book discusses what kind of a war this was, and describes Norway's part in it.-Related links:* in...
/Atten dager i mai (with Espen SøbyeEspen SøbyeEspen Søbye is a Norwegian author and literary critic. He has a Mag.art. degree in philosophy, and was formerly employed at Statistics Norway in Oslo...
, documentary) - 2001 – KarusellmusikkKarusellmusikk-External links:*...
(short stories) - 2007 – Det hvite hotellet; English translation: The White Hotel
- 2008 – Hodejegerne; English translation: The Headhunters
Awards and nominations
- The Riverton Prize 1997 for Best Norwegian Crime Novel of the Year (The Bat Man)
- The Glass Key AwardGlass key awardThe Glass Key award is a literature award given annually to a crime novel by an author from the Nordic countries.The award, named after the novel The Glass Key by American crime writer Dashiell Hammett, is a real glass key given every year by the members of the Crime Writers of Scandinavia to a...
1998 for Best Nordic Crime Novel of the Year (The Bat Man) - The Norwegian Booksellers' Prize for Best Novel of the Year 2000 (The Redbreast)
- The Mads Wiel Nygaards Bursary 2002 (Nemesis)
- Best Norwegian Crime Novel Ever Written awarded by the Norwegian book clubs in 2004 (The Redbreast)
- The Finnish Academy of Crime Writers' Special Commendation 2007 for Excellence in Foreign Crime Writing (The Devil’s Star)
- Shortlisted for Duncan Lawrie International Dagger 2007 (The Redbreast)
- The Norwegian Booksellers' Prize or Best Novel of the Year 2007 (The Snowman)
- Shortlisted for Ark's Children's Book Award for Best Children's Book 2007 (Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder)
- The Norwegian Book Club Prize 2008 for Best Novel of the Year (The Snowman)
- Nominated for the Norwegian Bookseller's Prize 2008 (Headhunters and Doctor Proctor's Time Bathtub)
- Nominated for the Edgar AwardEdgar AwardThe Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
2010 (Nemesis)