Karsten Alnæs
Encyclopedia
Karsten Alnæs Norwegian
author, historian, and journalist, received advanced dual degrees in history and literature from the University of Oslo. Before becoming a fulltime author, he worked as a journalist and taught at the Norwegian School of Journalism. His bibliography includes 15 novels, 3 children’s books, a collection of novellas, and an equal number of non–fiction works.
A prolific author, Alnæs has had his novels chosen by the Norwegian Book Club. Several of his works have broken publishing records. He was awarded the Brage Prize
in 1992 for the novel Trollbyen, and the honorary prize in 2003 for the cultural impact of his literary work. He received the Dobloug Prize
in 1998.
His series The History of Norway (5 volumes; 1996–2000) received the Sverre Steen Prize of the Norwegian Historical Society and topped the bestseller list for non–fiction in Norway. It became the basis of a TV-series, with Alnæs as host and director. The 16 programs were telecast nationwide by NRK, with a record–breaking number of viewers.
His book series The History of Europe (4 volumes; 2003–2006) has been translated into several languages. Like its predecessor, it is still in print.
Alnæs was twice elected president of the Norwegian Authors' Association 1985–1987 and 1999–2001, and has long been active in PEN International. He is a popular speaker on the international lecture circuit and serves as the lone representative for the Scandinavian countries on the European Cultural Parliament.
He was born in Hønefoss
, and is a cand.philol. by education.
Bibliography
1971 Roles and Patterns in Mass Media. Non–Fiction. Journalism. [Roller og mønstre i
massemedia]*
1971 On Access to Language. Non–Fiction. Journalism. [Om språklig tilgjengelighet]
1973 Language and Mass Media. Non–Fiction. [Språk og massemedier]
1975 Wasps. Short Stories. [Veps – noveller]
1976 The Campaign. Historical Novel. [Felttoget]
1977 Gaia. Novel.
1978 Lord of the Ocean, Serf of the Sea. Historical Novel. [Havherre og sjøtrell]
1981 Big Bang and Blue Days. Novel. Kjempesmell og blå dager - roman
1982 The Retinue of Fleeing Kings. Novel [Flyktende kongers følge]
1983 Come Love. Novel. [Kom kjærlighet]
1984 The History of Norway and the World Before 1850. Non–Fiction. Textbook for upper secondary school.
[Norges- og verdenshistorie før 1850.]
1985 Island. Novel. [Øy]
1986 The Sea Monster. A Narrative. [Sjøgossen]
1986 The Green Land. Children’s book. [Det grøne landet]
1989 The Boy From Duck River. Historical Novel. [Even 1814]
1992 The Magic City. Novel. [Trollbyen]
1993 A Peculiar City. Non–Fiction. Coauthor of Anthology on Oslo. [Den forunderlige by]
1994 Sabina. Novel.
1996 There is a Land. The History of Norway. Vol. 1. [Det ligger et land. Historien om Norge 1]
1997 Under Foreign Rule. The History of Norway. Vol. 2. [Under fremmed styre. Historien om
Norge 2]
1998 Toward Modern Times. The History of Norway. Vol. 3. [Mot moderne tider. Historien om
Norge 3]
1999 Toward a New Working Day. The History of Norway. Vol. 4. [En ny arbeidsdag. Historien
om Norge 4]
2000 Barcelona. A Catalan Fireworks. A Cultural Guide. [Barcelona. Et katalansk fyrverkeri]
2000 Fifty Rich Years. The History of Norway. Vol. 5. [Femti rike år. Historien om Norge]
2001 The History of Norway in Story and Picture. [Historien om Norge i bilder og fortellinger]
2002 Lisbon. A Travel Diary.
2002 A Stranger. Novel. [En fremmed]
2003 The History of Norway. An Instructional Guide. [Historien om Norge – spørrebok]
2003 The History of Europe I, 1300–1600. [Historien om Europa 1 (1300–1600)]
2004 The History of Europe II, 1600–1800. [Historien om Europa 2 (1600–1800)]
2005 The History of Europe III, 1800–1900. [Historien om Europa 3 (1800–1900)]
2006 The History of Europe IV, 1900–1945. [Historien om Europa 4 (1900–1945)]
2007 Strapping My Skis. Cultural History. [Jeg spenner mine ski]
2008 Back Behind All Colors. Novel. [Bakenfor all farger]
2009 Sophie, Don’t Die! Historical Novel. [Ikke dø, Sophie!]
Awards (Selected)
1976 The Aschehoug Prize for The Campaign [Felttoget] as best novel of the year.
1992 The Brage Prize for The Magic City
1992 The Norwegian Booksellers Prize for The Magic City
1998 The Doubloug Prize
2000 The Sverre Steen Prize of the Norwegian Historical Society
2003 The Honorary Brage Prize.
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, historian, and journalist, received advanced dual degrees in history and literature from the University of Oslo. Before becoming a fulltime author, he worked as a journalist and taught at the Norwegian School of Journalism. His bibliography includes 15 novels, 3 children’s books, a collection of novellas, and an equal number of non–fiction works.
A prolific author, Alnæs has had his novels chosen by the Norwegian Book Club. Several of his works have broken publishing records. He was awarded the Brage Prize
Brage Prize
The Brage Prize is a Norwegian literature prize that is awarded annually by the Norwegian Book Prize foundation...
in 1992 for the novel Trollbyen, and the honorary prize in 2003 for the cultural impact of his literary work. He received the Dobloug Prize
Dobloug Prize
The Dobloug Prize is a literature prize awarded for Swedish and Norwegian fiction. The prize is named after Norwegian businessman and philanthropist Birger Dobloug pursuant to his bequest. The prize sum is . The Dobloug Prize is awarded annually by the Swedish Academy.-Prize winners:...
in 1998.
His series The History of Norway (5 volumes; 1996–2000) received the Sverre Steen Prize of the Norwegian Historical Society and topped the bestseller list for non–fiction in Norway. It became the basis of a TV-series, with Alnæs as host and director. The 16 programs were telecast nationwide by NRK, with a record–breaking number of viewers.
His book series The History of Europe (4 volumes; 2003–2006) has been translated into several languages. Like its predecessor, it is still in print.
Alnæs was twice elected president of the Norwegian Authors' Association 1985–1987 and 1999–2001, and has long been active in PEN International. He is a popular speaker on the international lecture circuit and serves as the lone representative for the Scandinavian countries on the European Cultural Parliament.
He was born in Hønefoss
Hønefoss
Hønefoss is a city in Buskerud county, Norway, and the center of the municipality of Ringerike.In 1852, Hønefoss received town status and was separated from Norderhov. Hønefoss celebrated its 150th year of township in 2002...
, and is a cand.philol. by education.
Bibliography
1971 Roles and Patterns in Mass Media. Non–Fiction. Journalism. [Roller og mønstre i
massemedia]*
1971 On Access to Language. Non–Fiction. Journalism. [Om språklig tilgjengelighet]
1973 Language and Mass Media. Non–Fiction. [Språk og massemedier]
1975 Wasps. Short Stories. [Veps – noveller]
1976 The Campaign. Historical Novel. [Felttoget]
1977 Gaia. Novel.
1978 Lord of the Ocean, Serf of the Sea. Historical Novel. [Havherre og sjøtrell]
1981 Big Bang and Blue Days. Novel. Kjempesmell og blå dager - roman
1982 The Retinue of Fleeing Kings. Novel [Flyktende kongers følge]
1983 Come Love. Novel. [Kom kjærlighet]
1984 The History of Norway and the World Before 1850. Non–Fiction. Textbook for upper secondary school.
[Norges- og verdenshistorie før 1850.]
1985 Island. Novel. [Øy]
1986 The Sea Monster. A Narrative. [Sjøgossen]
1986 The Green Land. Children’s book. [Det grøne landet]
1989 The Boy From Duck River. Historical Novel. [Even 1814]
1992 The Magic City. Novel. [Trollbyen]
1993 A Peculiar City. Non–Fiction. Coauthor of Anthology on Oslo. [Den forunderlige by]
1994 Sabina. Novel.
1996 There is a Land. The History of Norway. Vol. 1. [Det ligger et land. Historien om Norge 1]
1997 Under Foreign Rule. The History of Norway. Vol. 2. [Under fremmed styre. Historien om
Norge 2]
1998 Toward Modern Times. The History of Norway. Vol. 3. [Mot moderne tider. Historien om
Norge 3]
1999 Toward a New Working Day. The History of Norway. Vol. 4. [En ny arbeidsdag. Historien
om Norge 4]
2000 Barcelona. A Catalan Fireworks. A Cultural Guide. [Barcelona. Et katalansk fyrverkeri]
2000 Fifty Rich Years. The History of Norway. Vol. 5. [Femti rike år. Historien om Norge]
2001 The History of Norway in Story and Picture. [Historien om Norge i bilder og fortellinger]
2002 Lisbon. A Travel Diary.
2002 A Stranger. Novel. [En fremmed]
2003 The History of Norway. An Instructional Guide. [Historien om Norge – spørrebok]
2003 The History of Europe I, 1300–1600. [Historien om Europa 1 (1300–1600)]
2004 The History of Europe II, 1600–1800. [Historien om Europa 2 (1600–1800)]
2005 The History of Europe III, 1800–1900. [Historien om Europa 3 (1800–1900)]
2006 The History of Europe IV, 1900–1945. [Historien om Europa 4 (1900–1945)]
2007 Strapping My Skis. Cultural History. [Jeg spenner mine ski]
2008 Back Behind All Colors. Novel. [Bakenfor all farger]
2009 Sophie, Don’t Die! Historical Novel. [Ikke dø, Sophie!]
- Norwegian titles are given in brackets
Awards (Selected)
1976 The Aschehoug Prize for The Campaign [Felttoget] as best novel of the year.
1992 The Brage Prize for The Magic City
1992 The Norwegian Booksellers Prize for The Magic City
1998 The Doubloug Prize
2000 The Sverre Steen Prize of the Norwegian Historical Society
2003 The Honorary Brage Prize.