''Melancholy'', original title ''Melancholia I'', is a 1995 novel by the Norwegian writer

Jon Fosse Jon Olav Fosse (born 29 September 1959) is a Norwegian author and dramatist. Biography Jon Fosse was born in Haugesund, Norway. A serious accident at age seven brought him close to death; the experience significantly influenced his adulthood wr ...

. It is about the Norwegian painter

Lars Hertervig Lars Hertervig (16 February 1830 – 6 January 1902) was a Norwegian painter. His semi-fantastical work with motives from the coastal landscape in the traditional district of Ryfylke is regarded as one of the peaks of Norwegian painting. Life an ...

(1830–1902) and his time as a young student in

Düsseldorf Düsseldorf ( , , ; often in English sources; Low Franconian and Ripuarian: ''Düsseldörp'' ; archaic nl, Dusseldorp ) is the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, the most populous state of Germany. It is the second-largest city in th ...

, where he, agonised by unrequited love and doubt in his art, is driven toward a mental breakdown. The book was awarded the

Melsom Prize The Melsom Prize () is a Norwegian literary award. It is given annually to a writer or translator who writes in Nynorsk, for a work published during the preceding year. The prize was established in 1922 by the shipowner Ferdinand Melsom. The prize s ...

and the Sunnmøre Prize. It was followed by a 1996 sequel, '' Melancholy II'', which is set on the day of Hertervig's death. The first part of ''Melancholy I'' was the basis for

Georg Friedrich Haas Georg Friedrich Haas (born 16 August 1953 in Graz, Austria) is an Austrian composer. In a 2017 ''Classic Voice'' poll of the greatest works of art music since 2000, pieces by Haas received the most votes (49), and his composition ''in vain'' (20 ...

' 2008 opera ''Melancholia''.

Reception

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of B ...

'' wrote in 2006: "In this wild stream-of-consciousness narrative, Fosse delves into Hertervig's mind as the events of one day precipitate his mental breakdown. ... Fosse's prose, which often affects a childlike quality, might put off some readers, but many gorgeous passages and Fosse's pursuit of the 'glimmer of the divine' in art make this a powerful book."

References

External links

Publicity page
at the Norwegian publisher's website {{in lang, nn
Publicity page
at the American publisher's website 1995 novels 20th-century Norwegian novels Norwegian-language novels Novels about artists Novels adapted into operas Novels by Jon Fosse Novels set in Germany Novels set in the 19th century Works about painters