Vigdis Hjorth (born 19 July 1959) is a Norwegian novelist whose Long Live the Post Horn (2012) and Will and Testament are the most widely known among English readers. She was longlisted for the National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2019 for Will and Testament, which had been recently translated into English. Her novel Is Mother Dead (2020), which was translated into English in 2022, was longlisted for the 2023 International Booker Prize. Her 2023 novel Gjentakelsen (Repetition) was published in March 2026.
Life Hjorth grew up in Oslo, and studied philosophy, literature and political science. In 1983, she published her first novel, the children's book Pelle-Ragnar i den gule gården, for which she received Norsk kulturråd's debut award. Her first book for an adult audience was Drama med Hilde (1987). Om bare (2001) is considered by experts as her most important novel, and a roman à clef.
Hjorth has mentioned Søren Kierkegaard, Dag Solstad, Bertolt Brecht and Louis-Ferdinand Céline as important literary influences. Hjorth has three children and lives in Asker.
Works in English
Repetition. Translated by Barslund, Charlotte. Verso. 2026. .
Selected bibliography Originally in Norwegian, except when otherwise noted.
Gjentakelsen [Repetition]. 2023.
References
External links Biography and catalogue from the publishing house, Cappelen Facts about Vigdis Hjorth on Dagbladet.