Hunger as graphic novel: A masterpiece

Arising from Hamsun’s belief that literature ought to be about the mysterious workings of the human mind – an attempt, as he wrote, to describe «the whisper of blood and the pleading of bone marrow» – Hunger is a landmark work that pointed the way towards a new kind of novel.

“Transforming literature into graphic novels is much more demanding than it sounds”, according to Sørheim. “The drawings easily become insignificant appendages, or they obfuscate the literary nerve in the writing. Ernstsen’s ability to reveal new perspectives in a novel as well-known as Hunger without impairing the prose, is no small achievement.”

Reviews

“A Masterpiece from Martin Ernstsen.” Five out of five stars. — Westfalenpost, Germany

“A comprehensive and impressive project from the first page to the last /.../ This book is guaranteed to render Hamsun accessible to new readers.” — The Grafill Jury, Gold Medal 2020

“Martin Ernstsen’s graphic novel is an ambitious project that stands firmly on its own two feet. It will provide new and old readers of Knut Hamsun’s classic with a unique and distinctive reading experience, and marks itself out as a robust addition to the Norwegian art of the graphic novel.” — The Brage Jury

“Beautiful, intense, full of humor and nerve-wracking.” — Dagbladet

“Knut Hamsun’s novel Hunger is a fantastic piece of literature – Martin Ernstsen has transformed the Norwegian classic into a great graphic novel.” — Süddeutsche Zeitung

“His visual adaptation of Hamsun’s classic /…/ is full of surprises and compelling evocations, with the genuine resources of a graphic novel.” — Der Standard

Winner of the Brage Prize 2019

Grafill Gold Medal Best Book Adaptation + Best Comic Book 2020

Foreign sales

• Germany, Avant
• France, Actes Sud – l’An 2
• Poland, Marginesy
• Spain, Nordica
• Russia, Gorodets
• Portugal, Cavalo de Ferro

About the artist

Martin Ernstsen holds a bachelor degree in illustration from the UK and a master degree in Storytelling from Konstfack University in Stockholm, Sweden. He debuted in 2007, and has produced numerous comic albums and books, including the thriller Fugløya (2009) and the panoramic animal fable Kodok’s Run (2011). His works have been translated into Swedish, Polish, Finnish and Danish, and his 2012 book Eremitt was recognised as Norway’s most beautiful comic book. He contributes to international comics anthologies, self-publishes fanzines, and also works as a children’s book author and illustrator. He is currently based in Oslo.