"A New Name," by Jon Fosse: The book that makes all other books useless
By Didier Jacob
Published on
Jon Fosse, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023, in Oslo. OLE BERG-RUSTEN / NTB VIA AFP
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Review: The sequel and finale to Jon Foss's sublime septology. An epic and luminous masterpiece. ★★★★★
The sequel and finale of Jon Fosse's sublime septology, which you'll have to start from the beginning if you missed the first volume. Because this epic and luminous masterpiece by the Nobel Prize-winning novelist two years ago is a prayer that unfolds its single sentence from one end of the book to the other. In this final volume, you'll find your two beloved heroes who share the same name, Asle and Asle, and who are like two versions of the same possibility of existence.
The scene takes place in Norway, in a village in the west. Oh, don't expect a "Mission Impossible" synopsis. If there's a chase, it's perhaps that of time. The passing of hours, while Asle observes a fixed point on the ocean that he sees from his window. But also the memory of Ales, the beloved but deceased woman, the dinner prepared for Asleik with which they will celebrate Christmas tomorrow, the paintings awaiting a next...
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