Vigdis Hjorth



Vigdis Hjorth (born 19 July 1959) is a Norwegian novelist. She was long listed for the National Book Award in 2021.

Life
She grew up in Oslo, and studied philosophy, literature and political science. In 1983, she published her first novel, the children's book Pelle-Ragnar i den gule gården, for which she received Norsk kulturråd's debut award. Her first book for an adult audience was Drama med Hilde (1987). Om bare, 2001 (English title If Only) is considered her most important novel, and a roman à clef.

Hjorth has mentioned Dag Solstad, Bertold Brecht and Louis-Ferdinand Céline as important literary influences. Hjorth has three children and lives in Asker.

Works in English

 * A House of Norway, Translated by Charlotte Barslund, Norvik Press 2017. ISBN 9781909408319
 * Will and Testament, Translated by Charlotte Barslund, Verso, 2019. ISBN 9781788733106.
 * Long Live the Post Horn!, Translated by Charlotte Barslund, Verso 2020. ISBN 9781788733137
 * Is Mother Dead, Translated by Charlotte Barslund, Verso 2022. ISBN 9781839764318
 * If Only, Translated by Charlotte Barslund, Verso 2024. ISBN 9781839768880

Selected bibliography

 * Gjennom skogen (Through the Forest), 1986
 * Med hånden på hjertet (Cross My Heart), 1989
 * Fransk åpning (French Opening), 1992
 * Død sheriff (Dead Sheriff), 1995
 * Ubehaget i kulturen (The Cultural Malaise). Co-author with Arild Linneberg, 1995
 * Takk, ganske bra (Very Nicely, Thank you), 1998
 * En erotisk forfatters bekjennelser (An Erotic Author's Confessions), 1999
 * Hva er det med mor (What's Wrong with Mother), 2000
 * Om bare (If Only), 2001
 * Fordeler og ulemper ved å være til (The Pros and Cons of Being Alive), 2005
 * Hjulskift (Wheel Change), 2006
 * Tredje person entall, 2008
 * Snakk til meg (Talk to me), 2010
 * Leve posthornet! (Long Live the Post Horn!), 2012
 * Et norsk hus, 2015
 * Arv og miljø (Will and Testament), 2016
 * Lærerinnens sang, 2018
 * Henrik Falk, 2019
 * Er mor død (Is Mother Dead), 2020