Gaarder, Jostein
In 1991, when Jostein Gaarder wrote SOPHIE'S WORLD he believed that a novel on the history of philosophy would appeal only to a specialist readership. In 1995 the book was the most sold novel in the world.
To date SOPHIE'S WORLD has been translated into 60 languages and has sold over 40 million copies. An unknown number of pirate editions also exist. Jostein Gaarder's other works, both his children's books and adult novels such as THE SOLITAIRE MYSTERY, THROUGH A GLASS, DARKLY, VITA BREVIS , THE RINGMASTER'S DAUGHTER and THE ORANGE GIRL have proved hugely popular and been published in a host of countries.
Gaarder's profound personal commitment and great fund of knowledge have inspired readers all over the world to think and ask questions about ourselves, our place in history, and the world around us.
Jostein Gaarder (Norwegian: [ˈjuːstaɪn ˈɡɔːrdər]; born in Oslo on August 8, 1952) is a Norwegian intellectual and author of several novels, short storiesand children's books. Gaarder often writes from the perspective of children, exploring their sense of wonder about the world. He often uses metafictionin his works, writing stories within stories.
Gaarder was born into a pedagogical family. His best known work is the novel Sophie's World, subtitled A Novel about the History of Philosophy. This popular work has been translated into fifty-three languages; there are over thirty million copies in print.[1]
In 1997, he established the Sophie Prize together with his wife Siri Dannevig. This prize is an international environment and development prize (USD100,000 = 77,000 €), awarded annually. It is named after the novel.
Jostein Gaarder is a Norwegian author of several novels, short stories and children’s books. Also an intellectual, Gaarder is best known for writing books from a child’s perspective often using metafiction, writing stories within stories. His claim to fame is his book Sofies verden: roman om filosofiens historie (1991) or better...