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Cover of Growth of the Soil
Literary Fiction· Norway

Growth of the Soil

by Knut Hamsun
Aggregate Editorial Score71/100
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Published 1920388 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun is a landmark work of literary fiction, first published in 1920. Isak, a simple man, carves a farm out of the Norwegian wilderness and watches his family and community grow around it across generations. Hamsun's lyrical celebration of man's connection to the land won him the Nobel Prize in 1920. Despite the author's later controversies, the novel remains a masterwork of Norwegian literature. Themes of land, simplicity, nature run through the work. The book has received recognition from Nobel Prize in Literature 1920.

Book Details

AuthorKnut Hamsun
Published1920
Country of Origin🇳🇴 Norway
LanguageEnglish
Pages388
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780679736417
Editorial Score71/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

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Country of Origin

🇳🇴 Norway

This book is part of Norway's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Norway →

Editorial Assessment

Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun sits within the tradition of literary fiction that treats language as seriously as plot. Published in 1920 in Norway, it engages with land, simplicity, nature, rural life in ways that have earned it lasting critical attention. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Nobel Prize in Literature 1920. Its aggregate editorial score of 71/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. What distinguishes Growth of the Soil is how it handles its central concerns — land, simplicity, nature, rural life — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Within Norway's literary landscape, Knut Hamsun occupies a significant position. Growth of the Soil is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Nobel Prize in Literature
winner · global
192060
✍️
About the Author
Knut Hamsun
Norway
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Knut Hamsun is a celebrated author from Norway known for influential works of literary fiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Growth of the Soil about?

Isak, a simple man, carves a farm out of the Norwegian wilderness and watches his family and community grow around it across generations. Hamsun's lyrical celebration of man's connection to the land won him the Nobel Prize in 1920. Despite the author's later controversies, the novel remains a masterwork of Norwegian literature.

Who wrote Growth of the Soil?

Growth of the Soil was written by Knut Hamsun, from Norway. First published in 1920.

What awards has Growth of the Soil won?

Growth of the Soil has received the following awards and honours: Nobel Prize in Literature 1920.

Is Growth of the Soil worth reading?

Growth of the Soil is a well-regarded book with solid critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 60/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in land, simplicity, nature.

Where can I buy Growth of the Soil?

You can buy Growth of the Soil on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Growth of the Soil?

Growth of the Soil is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is Growth of the Soil from?

Growth of the Soil originates from Norway's literary tradition. Explore more books from Norway on our country page.

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