Odysseus' Oar

Geir Angell Øygarden

Original title: Odyssevs' åre
Publisher: Gydendal, 2017
Genre: Narrative non - fiction
Pages: 433 pages

A man journeys through Afghanistan with an oar over his shoulder.

Inspired by the wanderings of Odysseus that concluded his epic sea journey, Øygarden embarks on the ultimate quest. In order to return home he must first walk so far inland as to forget the sea, an odyssey to reconcile himself with ageing, fatherhood – and death.

These eternal themes are explored in a remarkable cross-referencing of history, mythology and literature as Øygarden forges deeper into one of the world’s most dangerous lands.

Prose marked by its unpredictability and wit, and a framework of understanding quite without parallel in Norwegian literature.

Tom Egil Hverven, Klassekampen

In parts, the man who by his own account will ‘never get the Nobel Prize with my views on women’ writes so well that even his daftest notions become fascinating elements of his character.

Carina Elisabeth Beddari, Morgenbladet

To wander about the streets of Kabul with an oar over your shoulder is to ask for trouble. Geir Angell Øygarden makes it a thrilling exploration of the soul.

Gunnar Kagge, Aftenposten

Existential quest, a joy to read.

Fredrik Wandrup, Dagbladet

Geir Angell Øygarden

Photo: Christina Ottosson Öygarden

Geir Angell Øygarden was born in 1968 and lives in Glemmingebro, Sweden. He received his doctorate from Uppsala University i 2000 with a thesis on boxing, Den brukne neses estetikk(The Aesthetics of a Broken Nose). His book Bagdad Indigo (Baghdad Indigo) was published by Pelikanen Forlag in 2011.