Ingvar Ambjørnsen

Ingvar Ambjørnsen, born in 1956 in Tönsberg, Norway's most pub-rich town, grew up in the equally less exciting Larvik. He did not complete his gardener's apprenticeship and otherwise worked in various jobs in industry and psychiatry, as informal training for writers, so to speak. First book published in 1981: the untranslated documentary novel "23-salen". Lives in Hamburg since 1985. Married to Gabriele Haefs. (1956–) is considered one of the great storytellers of contemporary Norwegian literature. His books are characterised by powerful, realistic descriptions of the seamier side of life. The protagonists are often outsiders – described with sympathetic insight and warmth. Loneliness and friendship are expressed in a concise literary style. Since his literary début in 1981 Ambjørnsen has written 18 novels and three collections of short stories, as well as several books for children and youth. The author’s great breakthrough came in 1986 with the novel Hvite niggere (White Trash) – a crass exposure of the plight of that unfortunate soul seeking out an existence in sub-cultures. His most successful novels in recent years is the quartet about the odd-ball Elling; critically acclaimed and very well sold to Ambjørnsen’s wide audience. Ambjørnsen has introduced something entirely new with his books about Elling. His stories contain less external plot, but proportionately more crazy inventiveness and absurd humour. The entire Elling series has been made into three movies. The first one has been shown in many countries and was nominated to an Oscar for best foreign picture in 2001. The theatre play Elling has appeared on stage at several theatres around Europe.