Septology (Norwegian: Septologien) is a novel of seven parts by Norwegian author Jon Fosse, published between 2019 and 2021. The work is known for its minimal-punctuation narrative style and exploration of existential themes, contributing to Fosse's receipt of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2023.[1]
Fosse conceived the idea for Septology in 2015 while residing in western Norway.[2]
A convert to Catholicism, Fosse has described Septology as an exploration of his spiritual beliefs, grappling with the nature of existence and the possibility of transcendence.[3]
Plot
The series centers on Asle, an aging painter and widower on Norway's southwest coast. His life intertwines with that of another Asle, a doppelgänger living in the nearby city of Bjørgvin. While the protagonist leads a sober and solitary life, his counterpart struggles with alcoholism and loneliness. Fosse explores questions of identity, faith, and the human condition through their parallel existences.[4][5]
Structure
The work comprises three volumes:
The Other Name: Septology I-II (2019)
I is Another: Septology III-V (2020)
A New Name: Septology VI-VII (2021)
The books were originally published in Norwegian and translated into English by Damion Searls.[6][7][8]
Style and themes
Narrative technique
Fosse employs long, flowing sentences with minimal punctuation, creating a stream-of-consciousness effect. This style immerses readers in the protagonists' introspective journeys.[9]
Major themes
Identity and duality: The work explores alternative life paths through its doppelgänger motif[10]
Faith and spirituality: Religious symbolism and theological questions permeate the narrative[11]
Art and existence: The protagonists' work as painters reflects broader existential inquiries[11]
In a review of The Other Name: Septology I-II, Harper's Magazine praised the novel as "a very strange novel, beautifully and movingly strange," emphasizing its unique narrative approach.[12]The Times Literary Supplement noted that the series is "classic Fosse, featuring intergenerational trauma, doppelgängers, obsession, depression, childhood and, of course, that niggling issue of faith."[13]The Guardian observed that Fosse's prose "has a hypnotic effect, and reading it becomes a meditative experience."[14]The New York Times described the series as "a major work of Scandinavian fiction," commending its deep exploration of art, identity, and existence.[15]
Awards and honors
Septology has garnered recognition, both in Norway and internationally. Fosse was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature for his body of work, which includes Septology.[16]
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