Jo Nesbø Explained

Jo Nesbø
Birth Name:Jon Nesbø
Birth Date:1960 3, df=y
Birth Place:Oslo, Norway
Children:1

Jon "Jo" Nesbø (in Norwegian ˈjuː ˈnɛ̀sbøː/; born 29 March 1960) is a Norwegian writer, musician, and former football player and reporter. More than 3 million copies of his novels had been sold in Norway as of March 2014,[1] and he had sold over 50 million copies worldwide by 2021, making him the most successful Norwegian author of all time.[2] [3] [4] [5] His work has been translated into more than 50 languages.

Known primarily for his crime novels featuring Inspector Harry Hole, Nesbø is also the main vocalist and songwriter for the Norwegian rock band Di Derre. In 2007 he released his first children's book, Doktor Proktors Prompepulver (English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder). The 2011 film Headhunters is based on Nesbø's novel Hodejegerne (The Headhunters).

Early life

Jon Nesbø[6] was born in Oslo on 29 March 1960 and grew up in Molde.[7] He graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics with a degree in economics and business administration.[8] He worked as a freelance journalist and stockbroker before he began his writing career.[9]

Career

The Harry Hole series

The series follows Harry Hole, a tough detective working for Crime Squad and later with the National Criminal Investigation Service, whose investigations take him from Norway to numerous other countries. Hole takes on seemingly unconnected cases, sometimes found to involve serial killers, bank robbers, gangsters, or the establishment, but spends a significant amount of time battling alcoholism and his own personal demons.[10] [11]

The Harry Hole novels are multi-layered, violent, and often feature women in peril, as typified by The Snowman.[12] On the return of Harry Hole in The Thirst, Nesbø said: "I was always coming back to Harry; he is my soul mate. But it is a dark soul, so it is – as always – both a thrill and a chilling, emotionally exhausting experience. But Harry and the story make it worth the sleepless nights."[13]

A film adaptation of The Snowman, with Tomas Alfredson directing (replacing Martin Scorsese, who executive produced), and starring Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, and Charlotte Gainsbourg,[14] premiered in October 2017.[15]

The Doctor Proctor series

Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder, originally published in 2007, was Nesbø's first children's book. They are illustrated by Mike Lowery. The series is set in Oslo and follows the story of Doctor Proctor, a crazy professor waiting for his big break, his next-door neighbour Lisa and her peculiar friend Nilly, a short redheaded boy. The ruthless twins Truls and Trym Thrane sometimes lurk in the background. Doctor Proctor's first major inventions are a powder that makes the user fart (and the farts don't smell) and the "Fartonaut Powder," which makes the user fart so powerfully that they blast into space. In book 2 he invents a bathtub that allows the user to travel through time. As of 2018, there are 5 books in the series.

In 2014, a live-action film adaptation of the first book was made, and is only available in Norwegian. A sequel, Doktor Proktors Tidsbadekar, was released in 2015 with German involvement. Both films received mixed reviews.

The Olav Johansen series

It was announced in October 2013 that, writing under the pen-name of Tom Johansen, Nesbø had written at least two novels provisionally entitled Blood on Snow and More Blood on the Water, scheduled to be published in autumn 2014 and spring 2015.[16] [17] The books Blood on Snow and its sequel Midnight Sun: Blood on Snow 2 were published in 2015, but under Jo Nesbø's name.[18] [19]

It was also announced in October 2013 that Warner Brothers had bought the rights to Blood on Snow and planned to make a screen adaptation, to be produced by and possibly starring Leonardo DiCaprio.[20] However, on 4 April 2017, it was reported that the screen rights had been purchased by Tobey Maguire's Material Pictures and Lawrence Grey's Grey Matter Productions, and that Maguire would make his directorial debut on the projected film adaptation.[21]

This series follows Olav Johansen, a fixer for Oslo crime boss Daniel Hoffman. In Blood on Snow, Olav has just found the woman of his dreams. The only problem is that she's his boss's wife and that his boss has hired him to kill her.

A film adaptation of Midnight Sun, titled The Hanging Sun, directed by Francesco Carrozzini directing and starring Alessandro Borghi, Jessica Brown Findlay, Sam Spruell, Peter Mullan and Charles Dance,[22] premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022.[23]

Other projects

In 2011, the Nesbø story Twelve was adapted by Magnus Martens into the film Jackpot (Norwegian: Arme Riddere), a black comedy crime mystery film.[24]

In 2014 it was announced that Nesbø would contribute a re-telling of the story of Macbeth as part of the Hogarth Shakespeare project, described as a 'crime noir' version of the tragedy.[25] [26] His Macbeth is set in 1970 in an unspecified location that combines aspects of Scandinavia and Scotland, and involves an Inspector Macbeth of a paramilitary SWAT team targeting bikers, drug dealers, and his police colleagues. It was published in April 2018.[27] [28]

In 2016, it was announced that there are also plans to adapt his stand-alone novel, Sønnen (The Son), as a film, to be directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Jake Gyllenhaal as producer and Channing Tatum in the lead role.[29]

On 5 April 2017, it was announced that Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur was working on a new adaptation of I Am Victor, a short story by Nesbø previously planned as an NBC television series but not completed.[29]

Other work

Nesbø played as a striker for the football team Molde FK until he was forced to give up his football career upon tearing the cruciate ligaments in his knee.[30]

Nesbø has been the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the Norwegian rock band Di Derre since its formation in 1992.

Personal life

Nesbø lives close to his ex-wife and their daughter in Oslo.[2] [8]

Nesbø is a dedicated rock climber, having begun climbing seriously at age 50. In 2023, he achieved a long-standing goal of climbing a French grade 8a sport route.[31] [32] [33]

Bibliography

The Harry Hole novels

See main article: Harry Hole.

The Doctor Proctor novels

See main article: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder.

The Olav Johansen novels

Stand-alone works

Non-fiction

TV series

Okkupert (Occupied), based on a concept by Jo Nesbø, is a television series produced by TV 2 and Yellow Bird, the Swedish production house responsible for the Wallander TV series, and the films Headhunters and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The series is a political thriller which envisages what would happen if Norway were to be invaded by Russia to seize the nation's oil resources. The first season premiered in October 2015, the second in September 2017, and the third in January 2020.

Filmography

Adaptations

Scripts and original plots by Nesbo

Awards and nominations

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Headhunters by Jo Nesbø " (review). Life in Norway. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2019. "As of March 2014 more than 3 million copies of his novels have been sold in Norway, and his work has been translated into over 40 languages, selling 23 million copies."
  2. [Lee Siegel (cultural critic)|Siegel, Lee]
  3. Milne, Richard (21 April 2017). "Jo Nesbo, the Norwegian crime writer, on his climbing addiction ". Financial Times. ft.com. Retrieved 1 December 2019. "Today, he is a best-selling crime writer, whose novels have sold some 33 million copies worldwide."
  4. Web site: why Jo Nesbo avoids his fans at all costs. thenationalnews. 16 February 2020. 5 January 2021. 7 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210107082900/https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/books/why-bestselling-author-jo-nesbo-avoids-his-fans-at-all-costs-i-just-pretend-they-don-t-exist-1.979330. live.
  5. Web site: Norway Crime Author Jo Nesbo Earns $51 Million Book Royalties in 2019. forbes. 19 August 2020. 5 January 2020. 8 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240808090202/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnikel/2020/08/19/norway-crime-author-jo-nesb-earns-51-million-book-royalties-in-2019/. live. "
  6. Web site: Derfor måtte han bytte navn . Dagbladet . Graatrud . Gabrielle . no . 28 August 2022 . 28 August 2022 . 28 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220828071537/https://www.dagbladet.no/bok/derfor-matte-han-bytte-navn/76987969 . live . "
  7. Kuiper, Kathleen (25 March 2019). "Jo Nesbø ". Encyclopaedia Britannica. britannica.com. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  8. "Jo Nesbo." Contemporary Authors Online. Gale, 2018. Retrieved via Gale In Context: Biography database, 30 November 2019.
  9. News: Jo Nesbo, the next Stieg Larsson?. Monica Hesse. The Washington Post. 3 May 2011. 5 September 2012. 16 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220416075243/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jo-nesbo-the-next-stieg-larsson-the-norwegian-author-is-no-fan-of-the-thought/2011/05/03/AFdj3GhF_story.html. live.
  10. Web site: Jo Nesbo official UK website. Jonesbo.co.uk. 15 November 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100827132909/http://www.jonesbo.co.uk/index.asp. 27 August 2010.
  11. News: Norway Has Noir; Just Ask Jo Nesbo. McGrath. Charles. The New York Times. 15 June 2012. 1 December 2019. 20 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190720210149/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/16/books/jo-nesbo-crime-writer-from-norway-visits-us.html. live.
  12. Web site: Law. Janice. All the Beautiful Girls are Murdered. SleuthSayers. 10 November 2011. 20 November 2011. 19 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120119134645/http://www.sleuthsayers.org/2011/11/all-beautiful-girls-are-murdered.html. live.
  13. Cowdrey, Katherine (19 September 2016). "New Jo Nesbo novel coming next May ". The Bookseller. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  14. News: Child. Ben. Michael Fassbender set to star in Jo Nesbø's The Snowman. 31 July 2016. The Guardian. 9 September 2015. 26 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160826003157/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/sep/09/michael-fassbender-jo-nesbo-the-snowman. live.
  15. Bradshaw, Peter (12 October 2017). "The Snowman review – Michael Fassbender plays it cool in watchable Jo Nesbø thriller ". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  16. Web site: Harvill Secker Announces Two New Books from Jo Nesbo. https://web.archive.org/web/20160327085551/http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/49997 . 27 March 2016 . Harvill Secker . press release . booktrade.info. 8 October 2013.
  17. News: Leonardo DiCaprio tilknyttet Nesbø-filmatisering. Dagbladet. no. 22 October 2013. 22 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131022100425/http://www.dagbladet.no/2013/10/21/kultur/film/litteratur/jo_nesbo/29901612/. live.
  18. Web site: Jo Nesbo: Blood on Snow. Penguin Random House. 8 November 2015. 13 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160713021309/http://jonesbo.com/book/blood-on-snow/. live.
  19. Web site: Jo Nesbo: Midnight Sun. Penguin Random House. 8 November 2015. 18 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160118215315/http://jonesbo.com/book/midnight-sun/. live.
  20. Leonardo DiCaprio Books Jo Nesbo's 'Blood on the Snow' . McNary . Dave . Variety . 21 October 2013 . 25 February 2014 . 25 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140225025412/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/leonardo-dicaprio-books-jo-nesbos-blood-in-the-snow-1200748353/ . live .
  21. News: Fleming. Mike Jr.. Tobey Maguire to Make Directorial Debut on Jo Nesbo Novel 'Blood On Snow'. Deadline Hollywood. 6 April 2017. 4 April 2017. 5 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170405193120/http://deadline.com/2017/04/tobey-maguire-blood-on-snow-directing-debut-jo-nesbo-novel-1202060947/. live.
  22. Web site: Steingrimsen. Morten. Charles Dance, Peter Mullan Join Cast of Jo Nesbo Adaptation 'The Hanging Sun' (Exclusive). Variety. 23 September 2021. 7 September 2022. 18 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018125506/https://variety.com/2021/film/global/jo-nesbo-hanging-sun-charles-dance-peter-mullan-1235072087/. live.
  23. Web site: Biennale Cinema 2022 The Hanging Sun. La Biennale di Venezia. 18 July 2022. 7 September 2022. 18 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018125516/https://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/2022/out-competition/hanging-sun. live.
  24. Web site: Interview with Magnus Martens – the Norwegian film director of Jo Nesbø's Jackpot . 4 August 2012 . Jennifer Atkinson . The UPcoming . 20 March 2021 . 22 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422014031/https://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2012/08/04/interview-with-magnus-martens-the-norwegian-film-director-of-jo-nesbos-jackpot/ . live .
  25. News: Flood. Alison. Jo Nesbø plans 'crime noir' version of Macbeth. 2 August 2017. The Guardian. 14 January 2014. 8 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240808090046/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/14/jo-nesbo-rewrite-crime-macbeth-shakespeare. live.
  26. Web site: Jo Nesbo to publish retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth – Jo Nesbo. 15 June 2017. Jonesbo.com. 12 November 2017. 13 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003511/http://jonesbo.com/jo-nesbo-macbeth-retold/. live.
  27. Web site: Jo Nesbo Gives 'Macbeth' A Gritty, Action-Packed Update. Bethanne Patrick. 12 April 2018. 21 July 2018. NPR. 17 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180717211327/https://www.npr.org/2018/04/12/599919038/jo-nesb-gives-macbeth-a-gritty-action-packed-update. live.
  28. News: Macbeth by Jo Nesbø review – Shakespeare reimagined. 12 April 2018. 21 July 2018. Steven Poole. The Guardian.
  29. News: Jo Nesbo's books on their way to the big screen. Malay Mail online. 3 August 2017. 7 April 2017. 4 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170804022401/http://www.themalaymailonline.com/read/article/jo-nesbos-books-on-their-way-to-the-big-screen#uFvVk9Q4Fut2AcGL.97/. live.
  30. Web site: Home – Jo Nesbo. Jo Nesbo. 12 November 2017. 5 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160205124335/http://jonesbo.com/#!/about-the-author. live.
  31. Web site: Jo Nesbø: 'I am a vulture' – interview. Andrew. Anthony. 11 March 2012. 12 November 2017. The Guardian. 29 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141029200421/http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2012/mar/11/jo-nesbo-harry-hole-interview. live.
  32. Web site: Jo Nesbo • Sportclimbing Scorecard - 8a.nu Profiles. 30 November 2022. 30 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221130123454/https://www.8a.nu/user/jo-nesbo/sportclimbing. live.
  33. Web site: Jo Nesbø's (62) road to 8a. Editorial. Team. 7 February 2023. 9 February 2023. 8a.nu. 9 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230209164922/https://www.8a.nu/news/jo-nesbos-62-road-to-8a. live.
  34. Web site: Roxborough. Scott. Netflix Teams With Nordic Crime Author Jo Nesbo for 'Harry Hole' Series. The Hollywood Reporter. 11 April 2024. March 18, 2024. 8 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240408135552/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-jo-nesbo-harry-hole-crime-series-1235854595/. live.
  35. Web site: Roxborough. Scott. Tobias Santelmann, Joel Kinnaman to Star in Netflix's Harry Hole Nordic Noir Series. The Hollywood Reporter. 1 June 2024. May 20, 2024. 2 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240602130844/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tobias-santelmann-joel-kinnaman-netflix-detective-harry-hole-series-1235904122/. live.
  36. Sutterud, Tone (24 April 2008). "Nemesis, by Jo Nesbo, trans. Don Bartlett " (review). The Independent. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  37. "Jo Nesbø: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder ". Books from Norway. Norwegian Literature Abroad (NORLA). 18 September 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  38. "Nominert til Bokhandlerprisen " [in Norwegian; Nominated for the Booksellers' Prize]. Norwegian Booksellers' Association. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  39. "Mystery Writers of America Announces 2010 Edgar Award Nominees " (press release). Mystery Writers of America via PR Newswire. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2019.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jo Nesbø".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.