Sofies verdun jostein gaarder biography

The suspicions of Sophie and Albert lead, in turn, to an investigation of metaphysics and the discovery that the duo are, indeed, characters in a novel, one being written by Albert Knag, a Norwegian military officer stationed in Lebanon. Knag is writing his novel for his daughter, Hilde. Knag's impending return to Norway provides a fair measure of suspense as Sophie's World builds to an appropriately quirky climax.

Upon publication in Scandinavia inSofies verden developed into an exceptionally popular work. It achieved bestseller status in various European nations and was eventually acquired for American publication. Sophie's World appeared in English translation in and proceeded to draw praise from reviewers.

Sofies verdun jostein gaarder biography

Among its supporters was Andrea Ashworth, who wrote in the Times Literary Supplement that the novel is "seductive and original. Although some critics expressed reservations about Gaarder's book, they acknowledged the work's merit. John Vernon declared in the New York Times Book Review that "the history of philosophy becomes inserted into the tale of a Norwegian Nancy Drew like an aspirin into a piece of cheese," but conceded that "Mr.

Gaarder's tour through the past of Western thought will perhaps have the good effect of encouraging some readers to seek out the real thing. Prior to the huge success of Sophie's World, Gaarder taught philosophy at a high school in Norway for eleven years. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item.

Norwegian author born Early life [ edit ]. Awards and prizes [ edit ]. Environmental activism [ edit ]. Political advocacy and religious controversy [ edit ]. Further information: God's chosen people Jostein Gaarder op-ed. List of works [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. Jakarta Globe. Archived from the original on 19 April Alberto teaches her about the history of philosophy.

She gets a substantive and understandable review from the pre-Socratics to Jean-Paul Sartre. In addition to this, Sophie and Alberto receive postcards addressed to a girl named Hilde from a man named Albert Knag. As time passes, Knag begins to hide birthday messages to Hilde in ever more impossible ways, including hiding one inside an unpeeled banana and making Alberto's dog Hermes speak.

Eventually, through the philosophy of George BerkeleySophie and Alberto discover that they are actually fictional characters in a book written by Albert Knag as a 15th birthday gift for Hilde, his daughter. They also hypothesize that the "real world" in which their story is being written may itself be fictional. Hilde reads the manuscript, but begins to turn against her father after he continues to meddle with Sophie's life by sending fictional characters like Little Red Riding Hood and Ebenezer Scrooge to talk to her.

Alberto helps Sophie fight back against Knag's control by teaching her everything he knows about philosophy, through the RenaissanceRomanticismand Existentialismas well as Darwinism and the ideas of Karl Marx. These take the form of long pages of text, and, later, monologues from Alberto. Alberto manages to concoct a plan so that he and Sophie can finally escape Albert's imagination.

The trick is performed on Midsummer 's Eve, during a "philosophical garden party" that Sophie and her mother arranged to celebrate Sophie's fifteenth birthday. The party soon descends into chaos as Albert Knag loses control over the world, causing the guests to react with indifference to extraordinary occurrences. Alberto informs everyone that their world is fictional but the guests react with rage, believing him to be instilling dangerous values in the children.

When a Mercedes smashes into the garden, Alberto and Sophie use it as an opportunity to escape. Knag is so focused sofies verdun jostein gaarder biography writing about the car that he does not notice them escaping into his world. Having finished the book, Hilde decides to help Sophie and Alberto get revenge on her father. Alberto and Sophie can interact only weakly with items in Albert Knag's world and cannot be seen by anyone but other fictional characters.

A woman from Grimms' Fairy Tales gives them food before they prepare to witness Knag's return to Lillesand, Hilde's home. While at the airport, Knag receives notes from Hilde set up at shops and gateways, instructing him on items to buy. He becomes increasingly paranoid as he wonders how Hilde is pulling the trick off. When he arrives back home, Hilde has forgiven him now that he has learned what it is like to have his world interfered with.

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