Henrik H. Langeland Norway

Norwegian author, born 1972. He has previously published work on Marcel Proust and a novel Requiem (2000). His second novel Wonderboy (2003) was nominated as book of the year by Natt & Dag in Norway 2003, translation rights were sold to seven countries. In Norway it sold more than 90.000 copies, while in Sweden it has sold more than 20.000 copies. Langeland holds a Ph.D. in literature from the University of Oslo, and has also studied at Paris-Sorbonne and London School of Economics. In his novel from 2007 Francis Meyers Lidenskap (The Passion of Francis Meyer), he combines his ability to tell an exciting story with this knowledge of and passion for literature. Langeland is also the editor of the literary journal Vinduet.

Verdensmestrene
(The World Champions)
Tiden Norsk Forlag, 2010

Verdensmestrene (The World Champions) is a story about four families in Oslo in the 1980ies. In the style of realism (Dickens, Balzac, Zola) Langeland portrays a sociological image of a time and a city through the eyes of three teenagers and a girl of nine from such diverse groups as the established upper-classes, the working class, a family of immigrants and a radical hippie family. At the same time, Oslo and Norway experience profound changes and the modern day oil business emerges as we know it today. The beginning of the novel takes place at Holmenkollen under the Skiing World Championships in 1982 where a Russian and a Norwegian play a central part, but also a Danish skier is mentioned.

As in Don DeLillo’s Underworld in which a legendary baseball match is the starting point of a great novel, Langeland also commences his epos with a historical focal point; the famous cross-country skiing relay race between Norway and the Soviet Union at the World Championships in 1982. The cold war and international politics are part of the backdrop whilst the young and the country that they live in stand on the brink of a new era. With this book, Henrik Langeland proves himself as an ambitious storyteller with the ability to combine historical facts with the particular and the personal.

This is the first volume in a series.

Main selection in Bokklubben Nye Bøker

Excerpts from reviews: “Langeland is without doubt clever, intelligent and well educated and it shows in his writing (...) insight and wording that makes your hair stand on end.” (Dagens Næringsliv)

“Masterly Verdensmestrene (...) an entertaining and warm homage to the frowned upon 1980‘ies (...) a captivating novel of generations. The first volume is more than promising.” (Dagsavisen)

“The difficult relationship between Lars and his dodgy friend Hauk is the focus and drive of this book which also can be read as a Lillelord-ish (by Norwegian author Johan Borgen) novel. An entertaining story that gives you a taste for more.” (Dagbladet)

Francis Meyers lidenskap
(The Passion of Francis Meyer) Tiden Norsk, 2007

Main selection Bokklubben Nye Bøger (biggest book club in Norway)
Straight into the bestseller list on publication

On passion and literature in a great new thriller by the author of Wonderboy.

The 53 year old professor of literature Francis Meyer lives a comfortable but secluded life on his own, right up until the day of his first lecture when he realises that Nadia Reza Lindtner, a 26 year old Norwegian-Iranian postgraduate, wants him as her supervisor. At the same time, Francis is drawn into the captivating discovery of a 300 year old Petter Dass manuscript which soon turns out to contain more than anybody can imagine.

The scene is the University of Oslo, the department of literary history. The story is full of excitement, love, satire and knowledge. The account of the hand written Petter Dass manuscript is based on an actual event. You won't be able to put this book down!