Introduction
Knut Ødegård (born 6 November 1945) is a Norwegian poet.
Biography
Born in 1945 in Molde, Norway, Ødegård made his poetic debut in 1967. Since then he has published many volumes of poetry, two novels for young adults, two books about Iceland, a play, and several reinterpretations. His own works are recognized internationally as deeply original and high quality poetry and his poetry books are translated into 31 languages (2014), among these five separate collections in English.
He was the founder and president of the Bjørnson Festival, the Norwegian International Literature Festival, held in homage to Nobel laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, for a decade. Ødegård is now the president of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson-Akademiet, The Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression.
He shares his time between a home in Molde and another in Reykjavík, Iceland.
Selected works
- 1982: Wind over Romsdal, poems, translated by George Johnston.
- 1989: *Bee-Buzz, Salmon Leap (1989), poems, translated by George Johnston.
- 2002: Missa, poems, translated by Brian McNeil
- 2005: Judas Iscariot and Other Poems, translated by Brian McNeil
- 2009: "Selected Poems", translated by Brian McNeil
- ^ "HISTOIRE ADMINISTRATIVE/NOTICE BIOGRAPHIQUE", George Johnston fonds, ArchivesCanada.ca, Web, 4 May 2011.
Distinctions
Ødegård is appointed a Norwegian State Scholar by the Norwegian Parliament as well as a Consul General for the Republic of Macedonia in Norway (1997), and he has received many prizes and awards for his literary work.
National orders
Norway: Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (1997) by the King of Norway
Foreign orders
Holy See: Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (2009), knighted by Cardinal Foley
Iceland: Knight Commander of the Order of the Falcon by the President of Iceland (1995)
Other
- Bastian Prize (1984) by the Norwegian Association of Literary Translators
- Anders Jahre Cultural Prize (2001)
Slovakia Jan Smrek Prize (2009) for his literary work in Bratislava, Slovakia
Dobloug Prize (2011) by the Swedish Academy
