''Septology'' () is a novel of seven parts by Norwegian author
Jon Fosse
Jon Olav Fosse (; born 29 September 1959) is a Norwegian author, translator, and playwright. In 2023, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable."
Fosse's work spans over se ...
, 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
The Nobel Prize in Literature, here meaning ''for'' Literature (), is a Swedish literature prize that is awarded annually, since 1901, to an author from any country who has, in the words of the will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, "in ...
in 2023.
Background
Fosse conceived the idea for ''Septology'' in 2015 while residing in western Norway.
A convert to
Catholicism
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
, Fosse has described ''Septology'' as an exploration of his spiritual beliefs, grappling with the nature of existence and the possibility of transcendence.
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
A doppelgänger ( ), sometimes spelled doppelgaenger or doppelganger, is a ghostly double of a living person, especially one that haunts its own fleshly counterpart.
In fiction and mythology, a doppelgänger is often portrayed as a ghostly or p ...
living in the nearby city of
Bjørgvin
Bergen (, ) is a city and municipality in Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway after the capital Oslo.
By May 2025 the population is 294 029 according to Statistics Norway. The municipali ...
. While the protagonist leads a sober and solitary life, his counterpart struggles with
alcoholism
Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...
and loneliness. Fosse explores questions of identity, faith, and the human condition through their parallel existences.
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
Damion Searls is an American writer and translator. He grew up in New York and studied at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. He translates literary works from German, Norwegian, French, and Dutch. Among the authors he h ...
.
Style and themes
Narrative technique
Fosse employs long, flowing sentences with minimal punctuation, creating a
stream-of-consciousness
In literary criticism, stream of consciousness is a narrative mode or method that attempts "to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind" of a narrator. It is usually in the form of an interior monologue which i ...
effect. This style immerses readers in the protagonists' introspective journeys.
Major themes
* Identity and duality: The work explores alternative life paths through its doppelgänger motif
* Faith and spirituality: Religious symbolism and theological questions permeate the narrative
* Art and existence: The protagonists' work as painters reflects broader existential inquiries
Critical reception
In a review of ''The Other Name: Septology I-II'', ''
Harper's Magazine
''Harper's Magazine'' is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in New York City in June 1850, it is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States. ''Harper's Magazine'' has ...
'' praised the novel as "a very strange novel, beautifully and movingly strange," emphasizing its unique narrative approach. ''
The Times Literary Supplement
''The Times Literary Supplement'' (''TLS'') is a weekly literary review published in London by News UK, a subsidiary of News Corp.
History
The ''TLS'' first appeared in 1902 as a supplement to ''The Times'' but became a separate publication ...
'' noted that the series is "classic Fosse, featuring intergenerational trauma, doppelgängers, obsession, depression, childhood and, of course, that niggling issue of faith." ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' observed that Fosse's prose "has a hypnotic effect, and reading it becomes a meditative experience." ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' described the series as "a major work of Scandinavian fiction," commending its deep exploration of art, identity, and existence.
Awards and honors
''Septology'' has garnered recognition, both in Norway and internationally. Fosse was awarded the 2023
Nobel Prize in Literature
The Nobel Prize in Literature, here meaning ''for'' Literature (), is a Swedish literature prize that is awarded annually, since 1901, to an author from any country who has, in the words of the will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, "in ...
International Booker Prize
The International Booker Prize (formerly known as the Man Booker International Prize) is an international literary award hosted in the United Kingdom. The introduction of the International Prize to complement the Man Booker Prize, as the Boo ...
for ''The Other Name: Septology I - II'' (Shortlist)
* 2022 International Booker Prize for ''A New Name: Septology VI-VII'' (Shortlist)
* 2022
National Book Award
The National Book Awards (NBA) are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. ...
, Finalist for ''A New Name: Septology VI-VII''
* 2022