Description
By: Knut Hamsun (1859-1952)
Hunger by Knut Hamsun is a novel that delves deep into the psyche of its protagonist, a struggling writer living in Oslo. The story follows his desperate attempts to find work, food, and shelter as he battles with inner demons and societal pressures.
The writing style is raw and intense, drawing readers into the mind of the protagonist as he spirals further into madness. Hamsun’s depiction of hunger and poverty is visceral and haunting, painting a vivid picture of the protagonist’s physical and emotional decay.
The novel is a powerful exploration of the human experience and the lengths one will go to survive in the face of adversity. While at times difficult to read due to the protagonist’s erratic behavior, Hamsun’s introspective prose is both compelling and thought-provoking.
Overall, Hunger is a gripping and harrowing read that offers a stark portrayal of human suffering and resilience. It is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
Book Description:
Hunger (Norwegian: Sult) is a novel by the Norwegian author and Nobel Prize winner Knut Hamsun and was published in its final form in 1890. The novel has been hailed as the literary opening of the 20th century and an outstanding example of modern, psychology-driven literature. It hails the irrationality of the human mind in an intriguing and sometimes humorous novel. Written after Hamsun’s return from an ill-fated tour of America, Hunger is loosely based on the author’s own impoverished life before his breakthrough in 1890. Set in late 19th century Kristiania, the novel recounts the adventures of a starving young man whose sense of reality is giving way to a delusionary existence on the darker side of a modern metropolis. While he vainly tries to maintain an outer shell of respectability, his mental and physical decay are recounted in detail. His ordeal, enhanced by his inability or unwillingness to pursue a professional career, which he deems unfit for someone of his abilities, is pictured in a series of encounters which Hamsun himself described as ‘a series of analyses.’ In many ways, the protagonist of the novel displays traits reminiscent of Raskolnikov, whose creator, Fyodor Dostoevsky, was one of Hamsun’s main influences. The influence of naturalist authors such as Emile Zola is apparent in the novel, as is his rejection of the realist tradition.
