Hanne Ørstavik, who was born in Norway’s far north and has since called Oslo and Milan home, is one of its most distinguished and decorated writers. She was recently awarded the Gyldendal Prize, Norway’s biggest literary prize – awarded to authors with an exceptional body of work.

Her dark, beautiful and devastating novella Love won the 2019 PEN Translation Prize and was a finalist for The National Book Award for Translated Literature. Closely followed in English translation was Ti Amo, a novella informed by Ørstavik’s loss of her Italian husband to cancer soon into their marriage.

Her most recent publication to appear in English translation is Stay with Me, a novel in which she returns to her theme of love – this time exploring how it can be intertwined with insecurity, fear and violence.

Noelle McCarthy meets this extraordinary writer in a comprehensive conversation about her work.

Supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers.