The Trophy Room (Innbundet)

Author:

Lars Saabye Christensen

Norwegian title: Omagiu
Author:
Binding: Innbundet
Year: 2024
Pages: 224
Publisher: Cappelen Damm
Språk: Bokmål
ISBN/EAN: 9788202844547
Overview Omagiu

Ion Pauker is the son of a master glassmaker in a small village. His journey through life coincides with the emergence of the new regime. Like his peers, Ion Pauker is drawn to what is new. He proves to be adaptable and ends up in the People's Palace, responsible for the Omagiu room - the place where all official medals and orders are kept. There are many trophies to look after, and strict guidelines for which medals to display at different occasions. But there will come a time when the medals and their supervisor cease to serve a purpose.

The Trophy Room takes place in a bizarre regime of the past. The novel also serves as a mirror being held up to our world of today, with its authoritarian tendencies and desire for strong leaders. Under such a regime, what happens to people’s humanity? What happens to citizens when their minds are controlled, and "truth" is nothing but a means to keep that control? Where does one draw the line between survival and treason?

And under these contidions, it even possible to be a good person?

«The Trophy Room is both an eerie portrait of the autoritarian's mentality, and a refreshing renewal of a long and important authorship.»
VG, five/six stars

«The book has obvious hints to Franz Kafka»
Dag og Natt

«... a touching and uncomfortable portrait of a person in a dictatorship's violence.»
Dagsavisen

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More books by Lars Saabye Christensen:

Reviews Omagiu

Nifst og vellykket fra Lars Saabye Christensen

«Omagiu er både et nifst portrett av det autoritæres mentalitet, og en forfriskende fornyelse av et langt og betydningsfullt forfatterskap.»

«Lars Saabye Christensen skriver enkelt og presist»

 
Sindre Hovdenakk, VG

Annerledes og strålende

«Lars Saabye Christensen overrasker og imponerer - igjen.»

«Lars Saabye Christensen overrasker nok gang med å ta oss med til et nytt univers der han med sitt språklige mesterskap og sin tankebredde får oss til å tenke på hvor enormt mye vi har å være takknemlige for i vår lille og beskyttede del av verden - enn så lenge.»

 
Tor Hammerø, Nettavisen

For ordens skuld 20.09.2024

«Boka har tydelege spor til Franz Kafka»

Odd W. Surén, Dag og Tid

«... et rørende og ubehagelig portrett av et menneske i diktaturens vold.»

«Lars Saabye Christensen overrasker med et dykk i diktaturets dam.»

«... en trist, men også rørerende fortelling»

Turid Larsen, Dagsavisen

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Author Lars Saabye Christensen

Lars Saabye Christensen (1953–) has published a number of novels, poetry and short story collections since his literary debut in 1976 with The Story of Gly. His breakthrough came with Beatles (1984), one of the greatest literary sales successes in Norway that, over the years, new generations continue to hold close to their hearts. The author received the Nordic Council Literature Prize for The Half Brother in 2001.

He has also received the Riverton Prize, the Critics' Prize, the Brage Prize, the Norwegian Booksellers' Prize, the Dobloug Prize and the Norwegian Reader's Prize. The author has been published in 36 countries.

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