Tuesday 15 September 2015

My new book: Coronations and their role in Norwegian history

Today I have the pleasure of announcing the publication of my third book. Norges krone - Kroninger, signinger og maktkamper fra sagatid til nåtid, which translates roughly as "The Crown of Norway: Coronations, Solemn Blessings and Power Struggles from the Age of the Sagas to the Present", deals with the role of coronations (and solemn blessings) in Norwegian history from Magnus Erlingsson's coronation in 1164 to the future solemn blessing of the current crown princely couple.
This might sound like rather dry ceremonial history, but coronations run through Norwegian history as a red thread and many of them have taken place in connection with important events, for instance the bloody civil wars of the twelfth century and the attempt to introduce a new state order based on sacral monarchy, the excommunication of King Sverre in 1194, the unificiation of the Nordic countries in Kalmar in 1397, the final choice between Sweden or Denmark as union partner in 1448-1450, the nation's rebirth in 1814, the conflict between Carl XIV Johan and Parliament and the dissolution of the union in 1905.
Thus the history of the coronations is also the history of the Norwegian monarchy and a prism through which more than 800 years of Norwegian history may be viewed. In addition the book offers the first thorough investigation of the history and symbolism of the crown regalia and shows how the coronations saved Nidaros Cathedral from ruin.
The book will be published by Forlaget Historie & Kultur and go on sale around 8 October. More information about its publication and how to buy it will appear in due course.

6 comments:

  1. Congratulations and well done on the publication of your book! The premise does not sound "dry" to me; as you stated, ceremonial events are deeply entwined with contemporary politics, and I noticed from your English-language publications that you have a knack for drawing attention to the most enlightening details. I hope your book receives the readers it deserves.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, "E"! Evidently I agree with you that it is not a dry topic, but I think the challenge is to get it through to the general readers/potential buyers that it is a book not only about the coronations themselves, so I am a bit anxious about how it will sell. But time will tell.

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  2. Great news! I look forward to reading it.

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  3. Can we buy this book in France and in English ?
    From France
    Maud

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    1. Haugen Bok (https://www.haugenbok.no/Generell-litteratur/Historie/Norges-krone/I9788283230055) ships it abroad, but I very much doubt it will ever be translated to any other language than Norwegian, as there is next to no interest in Norwegian history abroad.

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