Fosse was born in Haugesund, Norway. He debuted in 1983 with the novelRaudt, svart. His first play, Og aldri skal vi skiljast, was performed and published in 1994. Jon Fosse has written novels, short stories, poetry, children's books, essays and plays. His works have been translated into more than forty languages. Fosse was made a chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite of France in 2003. Fosse also has been ranked number 83 on the list of the Top 100 living geniuses by The Daily Telegraph. Since 2011, Fosse has been granted the Grotten, an honorary residence owned by the Norwegian state and located on the premises of the Royal Palace in the city centre of Oslo. Use of the Grotten as a permanent residence is an honour specially bestowed by the King of Norway for contributions to Norwegian arts and culture. Fosse was among the literary consultants to Bibel 2011, a Norwegian translation of the Bible published in 2011. Fosse was awarded the 2015 Nordic Council's Literature Prize for Andvake, Olavs draumar and Kveldsvævd. Numerous of Fosse's works have been translated to Persian language by Mohammad Hamed also his works have been performed in Iran/Tehran main halls.
Personal life
Married three times, he lives part of the time with his Slovak wife in Hainburg an der Donau. He also has a home in Bergen. Originally a member of the Church of Norway, he joined the Catholic Church in 2013. Fosse has six children. Fosse does not drink alcohol, after previous struggles with alcoholism.
All the plays are published in English translation by Oberon Books.
Prose
Raudt, svart Novel
Stengd gitar Novel
Blod. Steinen er Novella
Naustet Novel
Flaskesamlaren Novel
Bly og vatn Novel
To forteljingar Novellas
Prosa frå ein oppvekst. Short prose
Melancholia I. Novel
Melancholia II. Novel
Eldre kortare prosa med 7 bilete av Camilla Wærenskjold Short prose
Morgon og kveld Novel
Det er Ales Novel
Andvake Novella
Kortare prosa"
Olavs draumar Novella
Kveldsvævd Novella
Trilogien Novel
Det Andre Namnet - Septologien I-II Novel
"Melanchola I", "Melancholia II","Aliss at the Fire", "Morning and Evening", "Boathouse", and "Trilogy" are published in English translation by Dalkey Archive Press. "The Other Name" is published in English by Fitzcarraldo Editions. They also publish "Scenes From a Childhood", which collects some short pieces from "Shorter Prose" among others.
Poetry
Engel med vatn i augene
Hundens bevegelsar
Hund og engel
DiktRevidert samleutgåve
Nye dikt
Dikt
Auge i vind
Stein til stein''
"Poems", a selection of Jon Fosse's poetry, is published in English translation by Shift Fox Press.
Essays
Frå telling via showing til writing
Gnostiske essay
"Angel Goes through the Stage and Other Essays", a selection of Jon Fosse's essays, is published in English translation by Dalkey Archive Press.