Johan Harstad: Under brosteinen, stranden! (Under the cobblestones, the beach!)

Johan Harstad's novel from last year, Under brosteinen, stranden! (the title refers to the student uprising in Paris in 1968), is full of excitement. It contains wild speculation, deeply empathetic relational descriptions, long passages about music and films (both fictional and factual) and a classic story of growing up in Forus outside Stavanger in the 1980s and 1990s. In addition to all this, the author has included sequences on unorthodox espionage, eco-terrorism, nuclear weapons and nuclear power - as well as questions about entropy, i.e. movement towards chaos, and how time can be a weapon. And yes, this is probably the ultimate proof that Harstad is an uncompromising, headstrong writer with an almost boundless repertoire.

Meet Harstad in conversation with critic and PhD student in literary studies at UiB Johannes Grytnes about the passing of time, about unrelenting empire - and about the (still) infinite possibilities of the tome. 

The conversation is in Norwegian with simultaneous translation into English.

Simultaneous translation– Here’s how it works:

1. Download the ListenWifi app.
• For iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/listenwifi/id1391914337
• For Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.listentech.ListenEverywhere&hl=en
2. Connect to the network: LitthusLytt
• Password: littlytt2025
3. Open the app.
4. Tap the bottom right corner and scan the QR code found on your seat or on a poster in the room.

Headphones will be provided at the start of the event, but you are also welcome to bring your own.