Against Nature
Tomas Espedal
Awarded the Brage Prize 2011. “One of the year's most powerful and original books." VG.
In contemporary Norwegian fiction Tomas Espedal's work stands out as uniquely bound up with the author's personal experiences. Tramp (2006) introduced us to the wanderer Tomas. Against Art (2009) is a novel that focuses on the author; on how a boy approaches art and eventually becomes a writer. It is about the profession of writing, about routines, responsibility and obstacles.
Against Nature is an examination of factory work, love’s labour, the job of writing. Working in order to live in compliance with society and nature. But what is natural, and why is the narrator drawn towards impossible, impossible love, books, myths, taboos? He reads the story of Abélard and Héloïse, about young Marguerite Duras and her Chinese lover, and realizes that he too is turning into one of those who live against nature.
"Tomas Espedal has a personally centred literary project that he pursues and expands with fascinating force and consistency".
Stavanger Aftenblad
"Espedal's writing sparkles, ... "
Aftenposten