Early in May, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway hosted the “literature metro” together with her husband, the Crown Prince. Because of her health, Her Royal Highness has this year, chosen to switch out her annual “literature train” to a more urban “literature metro”. Instead of using some of Norway’s long and remote train lines to promote literature to young people, she used the metro-system in Oslo city to reach young people with her message.
Now, Crown Princess Mette-Marit is taking the literature train to Germany. She is planning a grand arrival at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where Norway is the main country this year. She will bring famous Norwegian writers on literature trains with Deutsche Bahn from Berlin via Cologne to Frankfurt in Germany. On Monday, October 14, Crown Princess Mette-Marit will travel by train from Berlin to Cologne. The day after, the trip to Frankfurt continues. As part of the trip a large group of Norway’s most famous authors will attend the book fair in Frankfurt.
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess travel to Stovner with the literature metro. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
The news was released by the Crown Princess in a statement together with NORLA, Norwegian literature abroad. Her Royal Highness says:
“I am proud and happy about this unique opportunity to highlight Norwegian literature. I look forward to meeting German readers, along with some of our best authors on our journey through Germany. And of course I am looking forward to representing Norway on the world’s most important arena for literature and freedom of speech. The Frankfurt Book Fair is a unique opportunity to spread Norwegian literature for a whole world of readers.”
A quick selfie before the trip goes to Tøyen at the literature metro. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
Among the authors who have confirmed that they are on the train ride are Erik Fosnes Hansen, Edvard Hoem, Herbjørg Wassmo, Johan Harstad, Lars Mytting, Maja Lunde and Simon Stranger.
Norwegian literature has been very popular abroad in recent decades, and in 2019 Norway is the honorary guest at the International Book Fair in Frankfurt. The Crown Princess will also have a special role in Norway’s participation in the Book Fair in 2019. The Crown Princess said in 2017: “I am proud and pleased to be able to embark on the work as ambassador for Norwegian literature on the road to Frankfurt in 2019. As we all know, Norwegian literature has found a central place in international bookshelves the recent years.”
