Rune Christiansen had already established himself as one of the most interesting figures in the young Norwegian poetry scene with his three collections of poems, when he published his first novel, The Whales in Glasgow.

The story is set in England, Scotland, and France. It is the tale of the writer Tristan and his girlfriend Shelly, laid out in lush and sensual prose. Christiansen here demonstrates his mastery of the novel genre, while retaining his poetic skills and ability to create arresting images.