Knut Ødegård

Knut Ødegård (born 6 November 1945) is a Norwegian writer.

Born in Molde, Norway, Ødegård made his poetic debut in 1967. Since then he has published many volumes of poetry, two novels for young adults, two books about Iceland, a play, and several reinterpretations. His own works are translated into more than 20 languages, among these four separate collections in English.

He was the founder and president of the Bjørnson Festival, a Norwegian literature festival held in homage to Nobel laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, for a decade. Ødegård is now the president of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson-Akademiet, The Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression.

He shares his time between a home in Molde and another in Reykjavík, Iceland.

elected works

*1982: "Wind over Romsdal", poems, translated by George Johnston
*2002: "Missa", poems, translated by Brian McNeil
*2005: "Judas Iscariot and Other Poems", translated by Brian McNeil

Titles and honours

Ødegård is appointed a Norwegian State Scholar and he has received many prizes and awards for his literary work. The president of Iceland appointed him a Knight Commander of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon in 1995, and he was made a Knight of the Norwegian Order of Merit in 1997 – the same year he became the consul general for the Republic of Macedonia in Norway.