Jeanette Sky:
Elves
Children of Nature – Creatures of Culture

Dr. Jeannette Sky introduces us to a fascinating creature – the elf. They play, dance and prefer to show themselves in the moonlight. Their singing is lovely and they are amongst the most beautiful creatures both on and below the Earth. The elves have been part of art and literature all the way back to Shakespeare. The book presents an overview of the history of the elf, popular belief and how this beautiful, scary, comforting and joyful creature has fascinated authors and filmmakers both previously and at present. The book compelling and written for broad audience.

The author, Dr. Jeanette Sky, is dr. art. and her thesis is about elves in the Victorian age. She has written numerous articles presented in different journals.
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 Asbjørn Dyrendal:
Demons

What is really a demon? It comes in many versions. The most well known is perhaps the Devil himself, but these beings have followed us for 5000 years and is still haunting us. In 2000 the Devil paid the Vatican a visit, and not even the Pope himself could make him go away.

This is a fascinating and very well written book about demons of all times.
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 Torfinn Ørmen:
Dragons
Between myth and reality

The dragon is often seen as a big and dangerous being with fire coming out of its mouth. However, the dragon has many faces, and is found in cultures throughout the world. The author guides us through the fascinating cultural history of dragons, and makes a journey around the world, to Africa, Asia, America and Europe.

"Ørmen has given us a book to love"
Editor Erik Tunstad at forskning.no
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 Rune Blix Hagen:
Witches
From victims of persecution to spell casters

This book presents the intriguing history of witches and the horrific persecution they were victims of in Europe. Their cultural history is not only a harmless story of creatures from a vivid imagination but also a story about human beings that were pursued, tortured and burnt. For instance, a few hundred years ago over three hundred people were burnt accused of witchcraft in Norway.

But the witch is also a very popular character and who can be found in numerous fairy tales, films and TV-series.

The book is presented in a popular style and is both an important contribution to understanding our culture but also very entertaining.

The author, Rune Blix Hagen, is an historian and has published numerous articles about the persecution of witches in Europe.

"The book is both for young pupils seeking serious literature for school projects and for the common reader who finds an interest in the topic. Hagen's ability to include the most recent discussions in academia also makes the book an important starting point for new scientists in the field"

Ellen Alm, Nordlys (6 out of 6 stars)
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 Velle Espeland:
Saints
Miraclemakers and idols

Saints provides a broad historical background of the origins of saints and their historical development. It also discusses the function and role of saints in our culture at present. It tells the amazing stories of some of the saints – some are beautiful, comical and intriguing others are gruesome and horrendous.

Saints have been part of the church since its origin – and they are by far outdated. This book brings insight to the recently deceased Pope John Paul II policy when it comes to canonizing saints. He canonized more saints during his time as Pope than have ever been done since the process was formalized in the 16th century. At one point he canonized five saints during one month.

The author, Velle Espeland, is a folklorist and has published several books and articles on folkloristic topics including the book Ghosts.
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 Hans Kolstad:
Henri Bergson's Philsosphy

The French philosopher Henri Bergson (1859-1941) is regarded as a classic in the history of philosophy. In this book, Dr. Hans Kolstad examines the philosophy of Henri Bergson and the importance of Bergson’s philosophy today – how his thoughts are still of current interest. Bergson played a very important role in the contemporary current in the 20th century – the philosophy of time. Without Bergson the analyses of time by Husserls or Heidegger would probably never have seen the break of day. Important notions for the understanding of Bergson as a person and his thinking are time, durability, intuition and intellect.

Bergson appears as a thinker of great importance today because he provides answers to some of the questions we ask ourselves about nature, religion society and art. In 1928 he received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The author, Dr. Hans Kolstad is one of the most important experts on Henri Bergson. He has written numerous articles some of which has been translated into English. Dr. Kolstad obtained the D.E.A. degree at the University of Strasbourg in 1984 and took a doctor’s degree at the University of Oslo in 1996. Today he teaches French literature and philosophy at the University of Oslo.
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 Torkel Brekke:
The Children of Cain

Dr Torkel Brekke has written ten books, in English and in Norwegian, about different aspects of religion and politics. The Children of Cain is a synthesis of many years of research on the links between religious ideas and violent conflict. It is written in a popular style for a broad audience.

”How does it feel to be used as the final argument for a US war against Iraq?”
Brekke starts with an exclusive interview in the home of mullah Krekar, the former leader of Ansar al-Islam. In the rhetoric of the US administration this group provided the missing link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaida in February 2003.

This book is the first broad cross-cultural study of how basic religious ideas have caused conflicts and wars. The examples range from Old Testament sources and Aztec human sacrifices to the postmodern terrorism of al-Qaida. Rather than looking at religious violence as an expression of material and social factors this book argues strongly that we take the religious ideas of warriors and terrorists at face-value.

This book is a popular account of the relationship between religious ideas and war but it is also a substantial contribution to academic research on the similarities between Western and Oriental ideologies and traditions of war.
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 Sandra Petersen, Tonje Merete Viken (eds):
Kaleidoscope
Israel and Palestine from the inside

The conflict in the Middle East is one of the mostly discussed and long-lasting conflicts the world has witnessed in recent times. The media reports of suicideattacks, retributions and negotiations that are more or less successful. Many Israelis and Palestinians have opinions and points of view that we rarely hear about.

In KALEIDOSCOPE you meet some of them – both Israelis and Palestinians with different perspectives on and opinions of their own society, the conflict they are part of and the underlying history. What influence does the conflict have on their society and people’s everyday life? How do people living with the conflict describe their own society? In KALEIDOSCOPE you hear the voices of ordinary people – jews, Moslems, orthodox, Christians – academics, activists, journalists and a security guard. It presents new perspectives on a lasting conflict.

The book consists of articles, interviews and essays presented in a popular style for a broad audience. It is illustrated and provides facts for increased understanding.

Both of the editors have studied the area and lived there for longer and shorter periods of time.

Praise for the book:

"After you have read this book you will understand the complexity of this conflict."
Dagbladet

"The down-to-earth, fact-filled style – combined with original portraits of people and surprising perspectives – makes this book a pearl…"
Dagsavisen

"This book outstandingly demonstrates how many-sided and complex the conflict in the Middle East is… An important contribution to increased understanding and should be obligatory for everyone who is preoccupied with the Middle East."
LO-Aktuelt
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Kari Vigeland:
Happy
On happiness, meaning and man’s needs

What makes us happy? Is it love? Strawberries? The seaside? Not having to worry? Being together with friends? Reading a good book? Perhaps we are in need of more words to describe happiness. If you ask people what make them happy, you will probably get as many answers as the number of people you ask.

These days everybody is expected to develop their own style and individuality. Most people in the Western world live in societies with material wealth, in which the aim that we strive for is equal rights. Everything seems to be set for living the good life. But do we? In this book, author Kari Vigeland asks which qualifications have to be met for modern people to experience real happiness.

Professor Kari Vigeland works at the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo.
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Ane Ohrvik:
Pixies, gnomes and Santa Claus
From saint to spitfire

The world has always been full of pixies and gnomes and the Santa Claus we know today has had many faces throughout history. In the Middle Ages we meet a good-natured saint who saves people from their distress whereas in the darkages of Pietism we meet a horrifying character who punishes children. The world of pixies, gnomes and Santa Clauses is manifold and very exciting and the author presents their history and their diversity both in character, behaviour and looks.

The author; Ane Ohrvik, is a folklorist and has written a series of articles related to our cultural history; rituals, piety and ceremonial feasts.
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 Anne Beate Maurseth:
Enlightenment Acrobat
Denis Diderot 1713-1784

Get to know the real Denis Diderot!

Denis Diderot (1713-1784) is one of the most prominent figures of the Age of the Enlightenment. He had an enormous intellectual appetite and explored new ways of thinking and living. Not only was he a writer, encyclopaedist, science theorist and critic, but also one of the most significant philosophers in the Age of the Enlightenment.

Diderot’s principal work was the first modern encyclopaedia – Encyclopédie, an ambitious project which tried to collect all the world’s knowledge between two covers.

Juggling enlightenment book gives a thorough overview of Diderots life and work and it is written in a popular style for a broad audience. We get to know the real Diderot and of what great significance he has been for his posterity. For instance, the encyclopaedia can be looked at as a predecessor of the Internet. And the author claims that Diderot’s originality rests on the fact that he was not original at all. He imitates other philosophers, writers and scientists to such and extent that it is difficult to separate Diderot from who he imitates. In other words, he is a true sampler.

Dr. Anne Beate Maurseth is one of the most prominent scholars of Denis Diderot in Norway. She presented her doctoral thesis L’Analogie et le probable: deux configurations dans la pensée et l’écriture de Denis Diderot in 2003. The publisher Studies of Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century in Oxford is in the process of publishing her thesis.

"If you want to know the ideas of the Enlightenment, reading Diderot is the best place to start, and if you want an overview of the thoughts of Diderot, I do not know of any better place to start than Anne Beate Maurseth's Enlightenment Acorbat."

Espen Schaanning, Arr
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 Georg M. Rønnevig:
Aliens
Peacelovers, kidnappers and seducers

Nobody had heard of flying saucers at the point when Kenneth Arnold entered his small aircraft 24 June 1947.

In the 50s aliens were often portrayed as peaceloving creatures that came to Earth to help people. These people often told of encounters with beautiful, blonde beings who wanted spiritual growth and peace for humanity. Several years later the perceptions of these beings had changed into grey aliens who kidnapped people and exposed them to grotesque examinations and experiments.

How do these stories arise? And how did the flying saucer come into being? What has the US Air Force said about UFOs? Read also about the research done on UFOs and aliens.

The author, Georg M. Rønnevig, is a scholar in the history of religions and has written a thesis on UFO-kidnappings. He has written numerous articles and held several speeches on the topic.
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The journey begins in the capital of Syria, the author’s birthplace, in the 1970s. In this story, Sara moves between Damascus and a farm in the mountains, concrete wall and open highland, a mosque and a church. Within a fenced existence she tries to find a way out.

An enormous longing for freedom drives this autobiographical novel. The text describes the protagonist’s vacillation between resignation and resistance, the ugly and the beautiful. The story paints a vibrant picture of the Syrian society, but it also tells the story of an immigrant. The author outlines the problems that are relevant to a modern Scandinavian society.

The press wrote: “ ...a fascinating story of the innermost necessity of freedom and the costs that accompany the longing for a more open life. “ (VG)

“The reader is allowed to stay with the protagonist within a pure experience, without interpretation, blueprint, diagnosis or analysis.”
(Dag og tid magazine)

The Freedom of Expression Prize 2012 has been awarded to Sara Azmeh Rasmussen for her courageous and uncompromising engagement in the inviolability of the individual, for freedom of expression and religion criticism.

Sara Azmeh Rasmussen, born in Damascus Syria in 1973, came to Norway as a refugee in 1995. She has a Master degree in cultural studies from the University of Oslo. She is now living in Stockholm. Skyggeferden is her debut novel.


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 Velle Espeland:
Ghosts
Restless spirits in history and tradition

The ghost is the ancestor of all supernatural creatures: The pale shadow of Ancient history the revengeful and murderous dead, white ladies, the talkative spirits of the spiritualists and the Victorian ghosts that simply potter around doing their own thing.

People have always tried to understand what ghosts are - dead spirits? Disguised demons? Telepathic hallucinations or a mirror of the confused dreams of the dead?

This book presents the cultural history of ghosts and is written for a broad audience.

The author, Velle Espeland, is a folklorist and has published several books and articles on folkloristic topics including the book Saints.
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 Arnfinn Pettersen:
Vampires
Bloodsucking dead in literature and tradition

Vampires are mysterious, bloodsucking creatures in top hat and cape. They are an icon in popular culture.

The history of the vampire is diverse. Long before Bram Stoker created Dracula, the most famous of all vampires, there were plenty of bloodsuckers in popular literature. The modern version is in fact a product of literature and is created by Lord Byron himself. But also before the version of the vampire found in literature there were vampires – but is a very different one…

This book presents the story of the vampire and why the vampire leaves such an impression and is so attractive.

The author, Arnfinn Pettersen, is a folklorist and has written numerous articles about superstitious phenomena and edited two books.
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 Jan Ingar Thon:
Werewolfs

This is the last book in the series, and the author Jan Ingar Thon gives us the complete history of the werewolves, from 30,000 years old French cave drawings to the fictional figures of our time. The period of Enlightenment in Central Europe is especially interesting, when were wolfs were persecuted in the same manner and scale as witches.

This book is an important part of man's cultural history.
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