Hunger (Hamsun novel)

Hunger (Hamsun novel)
source
Name	Hunger
Caption	First edition cover (1890)
Author	Knut Hamsun
Country	Norway
Language	Norwegian
Genre	Psychological novel
Publisher	P. G. Philipsens Forlag
Release date	1890
Media type	Print
Pages	215

Hunger (Hamsun novel). *Hunger* is an 1890 psychological novel by the Nobel laureate Knut Hamsun. Published in Denmark by P. G. Philipsens Forlag, the work is a seminal early example of modernist literature and stream-of-consciousness writing. It established Hamsun's international reputation and profoundly influenced later writers like Franz Kafka and James Joyce.

Background and publication

Knut Hamsun wrote *Hunger* following a period of severe poverty and hardship during his early years in Kristiania (now Oslo). The novel was first published serially in 1888 in the Danish magazine Ny Jord under the pseudonym "Knut Hamsund." The complete manuscript was later published in book form in 1890 in Copenhagen. Hamsun's own experiences with starvation and his critical views of naturalist literature, particularly the works of Émile Zola, fueled the novel's intense, introspective focus. The book's publication marked a decisive break from the social realism of the period and announced a new, psychologically driven direction for Scandinavian literature.

Plot summary

The plot follows an unnamed, starving young writer struggling to survive in Kristiania. He drifts through the city, attempting to sell articles to the newspaper Morgenbladet and experiencing hallucinations from hunger. His erratic behavior includes a complex, non-romantic encounter with a woman he names "Ylajali" and a brief stint in a Vaterland police cell. After pawning his last possessions and failing to secure consistent work, he finally signs on as a crew member aboard the English freighter *Copegog*, leaving Norway. The narrative is episodic, driven not by external events but by the protagonist's deteriorating mental state and his philosophical musings on art and existence.

Style and themes

Hamsun's style in *Hunger* is characterized by its fragmented, interior monologue and rejection of omniscient narration. The novel is a pioneering work of stream of consciousness, predating similar techniques by Marcel Proust and Virginia Woolf. Central themes include the psychology of extreme deprivation, the alienation of the artist in modern society, and the irrational nature of human consciousness. Hamsun explores the relationship between creativity and suffering, as the protagonist's hunger simultaneously fuels his writing and destroys his sanity. The urban setting of Kristiania acts as a hostile, indifferent force, contrasting with the national romanticism prevalent in earlier Norwegian literature.

Critical reception and legacy

Upon publication, *Hunger* received immediate acclaim from critics like Georg Brandes, who hailed its innovative power. It established Hamsun as a leading figure in the neo-romantic reaction against naturalism. The novel's reputation grew throughout the 20th century, with authors such as Isaac Bashevis Singer and Henry Miller citing its profound influence. Hamsun's later controversial association with Nazism and Adolf Hitler complicated his legacy, but *Hunger* is generally evaluated separately as a landmark of literary modernism. It is consistently ranked among the greatest Norwegian novels and is a cornerstone of studies in psychological fiction and early modernist narrative.

Adaptations

The novel has been adapted for film and stage several times. The most notable cinematic adaptation is the 1966 Danish film *Hunger*, directed by Henning Carlsen and starring Per Oscarsson, who won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. A 2001 film version, *Sult*, was directed by Marius Holst and featured actors Kjell Bergqvist and Maria Bonnevie. The novel has also inspired theatrical productions, including a 2019 stage adaptation by the Royal National Theatre in London, and has been referenced in the works of numerous musicians and visual artists.

Category:1890 Norwegian novels Category:Psychological novels Category:Novels by Knut Hamsun