With his six-volume magnum opus “My Struggle,” Karl Ove Knausgaard became one of Europe’s most acclaimed contemporary novelists.
At once epic and intimate in scope, the books used the raw material of Knausgaard’s life to answer questions about male identity, the obligations of fatherhood and marriage, and what it takes to become a serious artist. In his new novel, “The School of Night,” Knausgaard further explores the mysteries of artistic greatness, using as his template Christopher Marlowe’s 16th century play “Doctor Faustus.” Knausgaard sets his story in mid-1980s London, where two aspiring photographers named Kristian and Hans try to find their footing in the art world.
I spoke to the Norwegian writer about the devil, photography and Radiohead.
You’re reading Book Club
An exclusive look at what we’re reading, book club events and our latest author interviews.
Your novel’s plot and characters are based on Christopher Marlowe’s 16th century play “Doctor Faustus,” which is about a scholar who sells his soul to the devil. Was this something you’ve been thinking about for a while?
I read Thomas Mann’s novel “Doctor Faustus” when I was 19 and it made a big impression on me. It’s been with me ever since then. The devil theme has hovered over some novels I’ve written, so it remained, and then I wanted to set this novel in London, where I now live, and where Marlowe was murdered. I wanted all of this in the background, but I didn’t know how to use it. That came during the writing.
The two young artists in “The School of Night” are photographers, an art form that has long been associated with the occult and summoning the unseen world. One thinks of the spirit photography trend of the 19th century in England.
I wrote about the first photograph in the novel, shot by Daguerre in 1848. I have it on my wall in my office. It’s a Paris street, which I find very unsettling and spooky, because even though it’s daytime there are no people on the street because the exposure was too slow to capture them. There’s just this lone figure, in the center of the frame who looks like the devil. I find it intriguing that the devil might have been present when the first photograph was taken.
Karl Ove Knausgaard, one of Europe’s most acclaimed contemporary novelists, sets his newest novel, “The School of Night,” in mid-1980s London.
(Solve Sundsbo for D2)
I think one of the reasons for the enduring appeal of the Faust legend is, if given the chance, most people would sell their souls for success, especially artists.
I think you’re right. And it is also a way of explaining something that is really mysterious, how a kind of normal, maybe even mediocre person could achieve something great overnight. When I was 19, I could have cut off my left arm to just have a book published. And when I wrote “My Struggle,” I was so frustrated in my writing, I was willing to go to extremes, to just make something happen. And then I didn’t think much about that when I wrote “The School of Night.” But it’s all kind of obvious to me afterwards that I use that feeling of doing something I really shouldn’t, and I could have stopped, but I still did it.
To your point: Kristian, your protagonist, has an artistic breakthrough when he photographs a dead cat that he has boiled. I guess my question is: A boiled cat?
Oh, that’s just due to the way I write. I never know what’s going to happen in a book. He’s starting to think about inner structures that keep up life somehow. And then, he thinks, how could he take photos of that? Well, maybe a cat. And then you have to practically get a cat. And then it’s like 25 pages of me describing how to boil a cat. I never planned it, you know.
Do you not outline your novels beforehand?
No, never, I’ve never done that. I do really try to be present and see what happens there. And then there will always be consequences of the choices you make, and that will eventually be the novel. And in this case, the character is different from me, so his choices will be different, and that creates a different trajectory, really.
Your characters are music obsessives in ways that only men in their 20s can be: curating their record collections, and so on.
When I was young, music really meant almost everything to me. When I was 15, I went to a local newspaper and asked to review records for them. And I had my own radio show. I’m not obsessed anymore, but I did see Radiohead at the O2 Arena recently. They are the last band I really wanted to see, and it was absolutely fantastic. I had tears running down my cheeks.
(This Q&A was edited for length and clarity.)
📰 The Week(s) in Books
George Saunders’ new novel might be the dark humor read you need right now, writes Robert Allen Papinchak.
(Los Angeles Times photo illustration; cover from Riverhead Books)
George Saunders has published a new novel called “Vigil,” and Robert Allen Papinchak is besotted by it, calling it a “virtuoso achievement, an immersive experience for the reader.”
Nathan Smith had a Zoom chat with author Martha Ackmann about her new Dolly Parton biography, “Ain’t Nobody’s Fool,” and got the lowdown on how Parton’s fixation with over-the-top wigs began. “Her promotions man happened to be dating an actress who had a big part in the television series ‘Mr. Ed,’ ” Ackmann tells Smith. “This actress took her around, showed her L.A. and they went to the Max Factor store and tried on wigs.”
In an excerpt from this new book, “Football,”Chuck Klosterman makes a case for America’s favorite sport as best viewed in the privacy of our living rooms. “It’s not just that you can see a game better when you watch it on television,” he writes. “Television is the only way you can see it at all.”
Finally, Bethanne Patrick gives us the lowdown on the must-read books of February.
📖 Bookstore Faves
Fear not, grown-ups: Our kids are not digital zombies just yet. In fact, children’s bookstores are thriving in Los Angeles. Children’s Book World is the largest independent bookstore of its kind in the city, with over 80,000 titles for sale. The store is a wonderland of printed matter for kids, with readings, book clubs and even musical performances. I spoke with the store’s manager Brien Lopez to get the lowdown on what our kids are reading.
What’s selling right now?
T.Z. Layton’s “The Academy” series, which is about a global soccer competition for tweens, is one of our best sellers. This series has lots of boys who were not avid readers becoming strong fiction readers because they are about a subject they love and they are really fun reads.
What kind of YA books are popular right now?
For our particular store we sell lots of sunshine romance particularly targeted to new teens like Lynn Painter’s books, as well as both mysteries and suspense thrillers like Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ “Inheritance Games” series. Dystopian sci fi is also popular, like Soyoung Park’s “Snowglobe” duology.
Who are the popular authors?
We just had a 2,000-person event with Dav Pilkey for his new “Dog Man” book and how he gets kids excited about books and reading just can’t be underestimated. We also had big events with beloved authors Katherine Applegate, Stuart Gibbs and Max Brallier. Middle grade fiction and graphic novels are very popular at our store.
Are kids still interested in books, despite all the distractions in their lives?
Kids definitely are interested in books if they are allowed to read about subjects they enjoy and books they love. The moment you tell a child there is a good book versus a bad book to read you have stopped that kid’s reading journey in its tracks. Let kids read the books they love and they will do it for a lifetime.
THE comedian John Tothill has been appeared in pubs and gig venues up and down the country, performing his stand-up routine to thousands of strangers.
So he’s better qualified than most to judge where is the the most welcoming spot in Blighty.
Sign up for the Travel newsletter
Thank you!
Wigtown in Scotland is what John Tothill called the UK’s ‘friendliest town’Credit: AlamyJohn Tothill and Fatiha El-Ghorri travelled through Scotland to find hidden gemsCredit: Channel 4
It turns out, it’s a little seaside town called Wigtown in Ayrshire, Scotland
Fresh from his nomination for ‘Best Show’ at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards last year, John was back in Scotland to discover the country’s best hidden gems for a Channel 4 show called ‘Where To Next‘, with fellow comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri.
They quizzed plenty of Scots on the best lesser-known places to visit and ended up in Wigtown, after it was recommended by several people.
John told us: “Wigtown is probably the friendliest place I’ve ever been to in my life.
“I didn’t meet a single person that wasn’t nice. It was full of enthusiastic people that loved living there.
“It’s a historic place, but of course it’s still modern because people live there. That’s why I think it’s a particularly lovely place to visit, it’s full of tourist attractions, but it’s not a museum.”
The town sits on the southwest coast of Scotland overlooking Wigtown Bay – Britain’s largest local nature reserve.
Wigtown’s claim to fame is that it’s Scotland’s National Book Town and has around 17 independently run second-hand bookshops.
Most read in Best of British
This includes Reading Lasses which is not only a bookshop, but also a café with a selection of cakes which you can enjoy in front of a log-burning fire in winter, or in the garden area during summer.
There’s also The Book Shop which is the largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland, with over a mile of shelving that holds 100,000 books.
The town holds a yearly book festival, which will be between September 25 and October 4 this year.
For a quirky way to spend a long-weekend, you can check into the flat above The Open Book and ‘play-bookshop’.
Holidaymakers can essentially manage their own bookshop during their stay, volunteer behind the till, make their own displays, and of course, read.
The experience is so in demand it has a two-year waiting list on Airbnb with the next available dates in January 2028.
It doesn’t come cheap either, four-nights at The Open Book for one person is £878.
Wigtown is filled with around 17 independently run second-hand bookshopsCredit: Channel 4You can even run your own bookshop at The Open BookCredit: Google maps
If you’re happy to stay somewhere without the bookshop experience then head to Booktown Bunkhouse where rooms start from £59 per night.
While Wigtown sits along the coast, it’s actually surrounded by marshes, and the bay is a nature reserve for birds like osprey and waders.
But you can still get beautiful sea views from the town, or if you want to head to the beach some of the nearest are Rigg Bay at Garlieston and pretty Monreith Bay.
40-minutes away from Wigtown is what John calls a ‘must-do experience’ while in Scotland.
Kitchen Coos & Ewes in Dumfries & Galloway offers a ‘hands-on highland cow experience’ visitors are given tours around the farm, and you can even give the younger calves a groom in the play-pen.
John said: “There were so many cows, and they were beautiful, really gorgeous.
“What the farmer told us is that highland cows don’t tire of human contact – and they don’t leave you alone.
“You have to stop grooming them because they will never have enough, so you have to set boundaries.”
Here you can have a guided experience, a selfie with the cows, groom them, tea and a bite to eat for £46 per person.
There are other options like the walking tour around the farm for £28pp, and even an ‘Insta Coo Tour’ where there’s ample time to take some enviable pictures from £24pp.
40-minutes in the other direction from Wigtown is Kirkcudbright, where John claims to have had some of the best food of his life at Swally n’ Scran.
You can pick up two courses for £19.95 – which includes scallops, haddock or crab.
John added: “The seafood is all locally sourced. I tried scallops andthe monkfish was incredible.”
One of the closest beaches to Wigtown is Monreith BayCredit: AlamyJohn Tothill and Fatiha El-Ghorri discovered hidden gems on ‘Where To Next’Credit: Channel 4
Netflix has shared a first look at its new crime thriller series, which is based on bestselling novels
Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole | Official Teaser | Netflix
Netflix has dropped an exciting first look at a gripping new crime thriller series perfect for Department Q fans, adapted from a celebrated author’s chart-topping novels. The serial killer whodunnit, among Netflix’sexpanding roster of crime dramas, stars The Last Kingdom’s Tobias Santelmann in the lead role, with early reactions praising it as “fresh and true to the character”.
Set for its worldwide premiere on Netflix on March 26, the Working Title production showcases Santelmann as detective Harry Hole, with Joel Kinnaman portraying Tom Waaler and Pia Tjelta taking on the role of Rakel Fauke.
Series creator and executive producer Jo Nesbø commented: “It’s been just great working with Tobias Santelmann and creating a character that is fresh, still true to the character and his universe in the novels. I’m really looking forward to presenting this Harry Hole to the audience.”
The programme, titled Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole, has proven to be a career highlight for Santelmann, who described the opportunity as an “honour”. He elaborated: “Stepping into Harry Hole’s shoes has been a tremendous honour and a thrilling challenge. Jo Nesbø’sworld is so rich, and Harry is a truly complex character.
“I’m thankful for this opportunity, and I hope the audience will enjoy our Harry Hole. Bringing him to life, and working with everyone involved, has been a true privilege.”
Jo Nesbø has captivated audiences globally with over 60 million books sold, cementing his status as a master of the crime thriller genre. The adaptation centres on his iconic troubled detective, Harry Hole, and explores his complex relationship with a fellow officer who walks a far darker path.
The series pits Harry against the morally compromised detective Tom Waaler. According to the synopsis: “Harry is a brilliant but tormented homicide detective who struggles with his demons.
“As the two navigate the blurred ethical lines of the criminal justice system, Harry must do all he can to catch a serial killer and bring Waaler to justice before it is too late.”
The explosive trailer plunges audiences straight into chaos with a devastating car crash, offering a glimpse into the perilous world the detective inhabits daily. Whilst acknowledged as exceptional at his job, he is “just not that good at everything else”.
Get Netflix free with Sky
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
His nemesis can be heard taunting him: “We are not so different, you and I. We are both intelligent. We don’t have to be enemies, you and I.”
Enthusiasts rushed to YouTube to voice their excitement, with @CANAN-07 commenting: “I read all Jo Nesbo books! I love Harry Hole’s character, and I was picturing exactly this actor type in my mind, Tobias Santelmann. This must be from The Devil’s Star book in which the killer cuts off victims’ fingers.”
User @stevelamont4593 commented: “I’m with you, I’ve read the books, I’m hoping it’s better than The Snowman (film). The book was brilliant, this looks really…. really good.”
Meanwhile, @iloveharrypotter22 enthused: “YES! I can’t wait. One of my all-time favorite book series. If you’re new to Harry Hole read the books, and skip The Snowman movie. This show has a lot of promise. Can’t wait!”
Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole launches on Netflix on March 26.
**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website**
