Karsten Alnæs

Karsten Alnæs (born 29 May 1938) Norwegian author, historian, and journalist, received advanced dual degrees in history and literature from the University of Oslo. Before becoming a full-time author, he worked as a journalist and taught at the Norwegian School of Journalism. His bibliography includes 15 novels, 3 children’s books, a collection of novellas, and an equal number of non–fiction works.

A prolific author, Alnæs has had his novels chosen by the Norwegian Book Club. Several of his works have broken publishing records. He was awarded the Brage Prize in 1992 for the novel Trollbyen, and the honorary prize in 2003 for the cultural impact of his literary work. He received the Dobloug Prize in 1998.

His series The History of Norway (5 volumes; 1996–2000) received the Sverre Steen Prize of the Norwegian Historical Society and topped the bestseller list for non–fiction in Norway. It became the basis of a TV-series, with Alnæs as host and director. The 16 programs were telecast nationwide by NRK, with a record–breaking number of viewers.

His book series The History of Europe (4 volumes; 2003–2006) has been translated into several languages. Like its predecessor, it is still in print.

Alnæs was twice elected president of the Norwegian Authors' Association 1985–1987 and 1999–2001, and has long been active in PEN International. He is a popular speaker on the international lecture circuit and serves as the lone representative for the Scandinavian countries on the European Cultural Parliament.

He was born in Hønefoss, and is a cand.philol. by education.