Norway Naked Truths and Tall Tales-bookcover

By: Svein Utigard

Norway Naked Truths and Tall Tales

Pages: 232 Ratings:

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Book Description

Norway has no famous cathedrals or temples, no big cities, nor an ancient tradition of civilization. So instead, we lie. We make up stories. The Norwegian sagas, fairy tales, literature, and dramas have all made a significant contribution to the cultural pond in our world, especially considering that we constitute 0.06% of the world’s population.

Thus, the creators of this book introduce their story of Norway, not as a tempting tourist brochure, but as an honest tale of a country to which they have a profound connection. Project Manager Nikolai Malling, Head Chef Even Larsen, Art Director Knut Olsen, Photographer Svein Utigard, and writer Terje Nordby, each one a well-recognized expert in his field, came together with a common wish to tell about the country they love. In this presentation, you will find no bragging about Norwegian peace initiatives or great achievements in sports.

The book is simply based on five men’s own honest experiences of being genuine Norwegians: sheep-skull dinners, rough weather, hidden mysteries, and hard work. You will find food recipes, tips for a true Norwegian journey, essays on fishing and farming, ship-making handicrafts, the origins of the art of ski-jumping, the love of cabins, hiking in the woods, and supernatural species. With stunning photos and an elegant design, this book presents a great variation of the national lifestyle, nature, history, and myth, digging and searching for the roots of Norway.

Svein Utigard has been working as a professional photographer since 1987, primarily in commercial photography, focusing mostly on branding and illustration, but also on books and exhibitions. His clients include major companies in Norway. Svein’s photos are published throughout Norway and abroad. He is a true enthusiast with a strong affinity for Norwegian history and culture, as well as food, travel, astronomy, and creating innovative solutions for photography and lighting. Svein has been an ambassador for Olympus for 20 years.


Knut Olsen started in the publishing industry, primarily designing books. He has worked in the advertising industry as an art director and creative director. Over the past 38 years, he has collaborated with some of the most prominent clients in Norway, as well as clients abroad. Knut has worked on large, high-profile campaigns in film, advertising, radio, billboards, the internet, catalogues, and in-store materials. He is creative and full of ideas, which have led to numerous awards, including gold at “Gullblyanten” in Norway, as well as the “Epica Awards” and “Cannes Lions” in Europe. Knut has always been a fan of good—no, great—stories in life.


Terje Nordby is a Norwegian playwright and mythologist, writing on social, historical, and existential themes. He has won the Ibsen Prize as well as other awards for his plays. In the 1980s, after meeting the Italian playwright and Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo, Nordby developed an intense interest in storytelling traditions. Since the 1990s, Nordby has broadcast hundreds of radio shows and written several books on mythology and cultural history for a broad audience. His “Calendar of Myths” (2004-2011), which presents a new myth for each day, received great acclaim.

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