Jostein Gaarder, born 08.08.52 into a literary family, is a Norwegian intellectualist, philosopher and author of several novels, short stories, children's books and specialist religion and ethics literature.
Gaarder became world famous for his philosophical novel Sophie’s World – A Novel about the History of Philosophy (1991), which he wrote from a young girl’s point of view, exploring the sense and wonders of the world through philosophical questions she is represented with in mysterious letters. The book has been translated into 54 languages, with over 3 million copies in print. It has become part of the curriculum in many Norwegian schools, and also been made a film, musical, board and CD-ROM-game.
He often uses metafiction in his works, like in the Orange Girl (2004), where a boy gets to know the true story behind his being through a letter his father left him for the future. Translated into 43 languages, this book was also made a film by Norwegian director Eva Dahr in 2009.
Gaarder has been much appreciated for his work, and has received among others The 1994 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (best youth book) for Sophie’s World; The 1996 Buxtehude Bulle Preis (best translated youth book) for Through a Glass, Darkly, and The 2004 Willy Brandt Award (for the advancement of rising young scholars). In 2005, Gaarder was awarded The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, followed by The Honorary degree at Trinity College of Dublin, Ireland.
Apart from his authorship, Gaarder has been involved in the promotion of human rights and sustainable development for several years, establishing the Sophie Prize with his wife in 1997 – an annual international environment and development prize (77. 000 €), named after the novel, where voluntary organizations, institutions, research environments and people with knowledge and/or interest for environment and development can nominate candidates to the prize.
His latest book is The Castle in the Pyrenees (2008). Of his list of works that has been translated to Lithuanian are:
-Hello? Is Anybody There? (1996) – Vilnius: Tyto Alba (1996)
-Sophie’s World – A Novel about the History of Philosophy (1991) – Vilnius: Tyto Alba (1998)
-Maya (1999) – Vilnius: Vaga (2002)
-Orange Girl (2003) – Vilnius: Alma Littera (2006)
-The Ringmaster's Daughter (2001) – Vilnius: Alma Littera, 2007
"The only thing we need to become good philosophers, is the ability to wonder" (Sophie's World)
Nanna N.K. Jørgensen
(Intern)