Simon Stranger

The Ghost

Gjengangeren

Imagine being dead for one hundred years only to wake up and be alive again! This happens in Oslo early one winter morning in 2006 – and it is the statue of Henrik Ibsen who has come to life!

In a state of confusion, Ibsen tries to go home to his flat, but finds it has been turned into a museum. The staff at his old café thinks he is a vagrant and throws him out. Eventually he is saved by Kalle and Kari, two homeless people who live under a bridge. Together they plan something, which will change the city forever…

Illustrated by Eivind Gulliksen.

Praise:
The Ghost was awarded the prize for best children’s book in 2006 by the The Riksmål Association. The jury writes: «Apart from the excellent, varied, confident language, The Ghost stands out in that it does not underestimate its audience. The book contains abundant references to Ibsen’s plays in addition to the heart-warming message. The story is exciting and straightforward, and the book should appeal to a wide reading public. Neither do Eivind Gulliksen’s richly empathetic illustrations do any disservice to the pleasure of this narrative.»

«[…] an almost touching tribute that Ibsen himself would most likely have appreciated. […] The great strength of the book lies in the artful storyline. Well-placed surprises and the mounting drama mean that the excitement is maintained to the very last page.» (Dagsavisen)

«The book is yet another example of the amount of creativity unleashed when authors and publishing houses produce easy-to-read books of meaning and quality.»
(Aftenposten)

«[…] an ‘Easy-to-read’ book with meaning and vitality. […] This is fine work.»
(Numer, periodical for the drawing art association of Norway)

Simon Stranger made his debut as a writer of children’s fiction with the picture book Krusedullen (2005). In 2003 he published his first novel for adults, the critically acclaimed Den veven av hendelser vi kaller verden.

Eivind Gulliksen (b. 1973) made his debut in 2002 with the children’s book Bud and the Nameless Potato, which won the Visual Award and was a selection at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair the same year. Gulliksen works as an illustrator on a series of projects in Norway and other countries. He lives in England.