Thomas F's Final Notes to the Public

Thomas F’s Final Notes to the Public

The Norwegian Critic’s Prize 1983

The world isn’t what it used to be. For example, it takes more time to live now. I’m well into my eighties but it isn’t enough. I’m far too healthy, though I have nothing to be healthy for. But life won’t let go of me. He who has nothing to live for has nothing to die for. Maybe that’s why.

Thomas is old. He lives alone and knows he is about to die. We meet him in ten different situations; all in which he meets other people – and this is how the reader gets to know him. Finally, the door bell rings, and a boy is standing outside the door. His name is also Thomas, and suddenly the old Thomas becomes sentimental: To make sure someone will remember him, he offers the boy a gift.

Two beautiful stories from Norway’s unrivalled short story master. Elected the best Norwegian book in the last 25 years by Dagbladet in 2006.

Reviews

“Askildsen’s dry, absurd humour is not unlike that of Beckett … His short stories are packed with irony, and the dialogue is sharp and expressive”
Times Literary Supplement

“Askildsen writes dense texts loaded with tension. While apparently focussing on details, he penetrates the characters’ appearances
Süddeutsche Zeitung

“a master of short story writing”
El Pais, Spain

“Hurry if you don’t want to miss out on Kjell Askildsen’s characters (…) If you ignore them, you ignore a part of yourself”
Le Monde des Livres, France

Thomas F's siste nedtegnelser til allme

Thomas F’s Final Notes to the Public

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Contact agent

Henrik Francke

Reviews