Culture

L i t e r a t u r e P r o g r a m m e
In literature, two areas of emphasis were chosen, one national
and one international. The national was developed in
collaboration with the Norwegian Book Clubs, in the form of a
series of books reflecting the diversity in Norwegian literature.
Participating in this effort were the entire Norwegian book
industry and writer organisations.
The result was a series of large, beautiful gift books, picture
books, novels for children and youth, poetry, essays and
novels. A key element in the series were the catalogues for the
many exhibitions that LOOC organized. Many of the books
have been translated into several languages.
Internationally, the goal was to give modern Norwegian
literature a boost internationally. This effort was organised in
cooperation with NORLA (the office for Norwegian Literature
Abroad).
Some books were selected for a trial-translation programme
in order to try to obtain a greater public. LOOC set up
requirements for the publishers, such as a desire to prioritize
authors that for different and often arbitrary reasons had never
been translated to a world language.
The result was 15 trial translations of children and youth
literature, all presented at the international children’s book
fair in Bologna autumn 1993. For the large book fair in
Frankfurt the same autumn, 11 new trial-translations were
made.
Several short stories were also translated, and Norwegian
literature was presented at a number of LOOC organised
events abroad. Press coverage of these activities was
excellent.
Among the Norwegian/Nordic authors presented in
Olympic context were:
Knut Faldbakken, Eldrid Lunden, Tormod Haugen, Torill
Thorstad Hauger, Nils-Aslak Valkeapää, Kjell Askildsen,
Lisbeth Hiide, Mari Osmundsen, Kjartan Fløgstad, Ragnar
Hovland and Tormod Haugen.