Published in 2011, ‘Days in the History of Silence‘ (Norwegian: Dager i stillhetens historie) is a novel by the Norwegian writer Merethe Lindstrøm that won the ‘Nordic Council Literature Prize‘ (2012) and the ‘Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature‘. Merethe Lindstrøm was born in Bergen in 1963 and she made her debut with the short story collection ‘Sexorcisten og andre fortellinger’ (1983), and has since written several other collections of short stories, novels and a children’s book. She has received most recognition for her collection of short stories ‘Svømme under vann’ (1994) and for the novels ‘Steinsamlere’ (1996) and ‘Stedfortrederen’ (1997). She was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2008 for her collection of short stories ‘Gjestene’ (2007) and was also nominated for the ‘Norwegian Critics Prize’ for best adult book in 2007. Lindstrøm was awarded the ‘Dobloug Prize’ in 2008 for her entire literary work. The narrative of ‘Days in the History of Silence‘ focuses on an elderly couple who struggles with the inability to talk about sensitive subjects from their past: they have silently agreed to not discuss their past, but while he shuts himself away more and more, she tries to break out of the isolation and silence. Who was the housekeeper that they were both very close to for a while. before abruptly dismissing her? Merethe Lindstrøm‘s writing projects a strong, tense family drama about silence and secrecy: it is about the love between two people who have made important choices that define their entire existence, just to realize that some things cannot be ignored. The past not only resurfaces, it has been there all along. According to the Adjudicating Committee, in a gentle, precise and thoughtful prose Lindstrøm relates how a dramatic past slowly breaks into an elderly woman’s life and consciousness.
