Blue Room

With the publication of her first novel in 1994, Hanne Orstavik, born in 1969, embarked on a career that has made her one of the most admired authors in contemporary Norwegian literature. Her literary breakthrough came three years later with the publication of Love (Kjarlighet ), which in 2006 was voted the sixth best Norwegian book of the last twenty-five years. Since then the author has written several acclaimed novels and has received a number of literary prizes, including the Dobloug Prize, for her entire literary output, and the Brage Prize, Norway's most prestigious literary award. Orstavik's novels have been translated into eighteen languages but never, until now, into English.

'A masterpiece of unreliable narration.' Nicholas Lezard, GUARDIAN ------ 'A highly unusual, coolly daring psychological thriller that explores emotional pain and indifference with an unsettling detachment.' Eileen Battersby, IRISH TIMES ------ 'A work of chilling, masterly control.' Laura Profumo, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT ------ 'Nothing is certain, no motive is clear and no person is above suspicion in Orstavik's perfectly pitched, tightly stitched and captivating brain-teaser.' Pam Norfolk, LANCASHIRE EVENING POST ------ 'Orstavik treats the everyday and existential with intensity.' Max Liu, INDEPENDENT ------ 'Psychologically astute and deftly translated ... A brilliant examination of a woman struggling to own her sexuality, to break free from the guilt and forge her own identity.' Lucy Popescu, TABLET