Bård Anderssens life is thrown into turmoil after his caricature of the Prophet Muhammad is published in a Norwegian newspaper in 2010.
Strong reactions soon follow; extremists begin threatening him. With the assistance of the police, Bård goes into hiding for six months before returning home in the hope of continuing living his life.
Back at home, the newspapers portray him as a defender of the freedom of speech. His friends describe him as the hero who dared to stand up for his beliefs. Those words resonate in the homecoming speeches, but Bård listens blankly. The only thing he can think about is the fact that the drawing wasn’t his idea. And is it truly a depiction of Muhammad?
The Caricature is a riveting satire of our times, a nail-biting love story and a tale of the struggles of growing up with divorced parents. It is a novel about how our lives are determined by forces beyond our control.
‘The Caricature gives an intelligent and satirical
outlook on the media’s focus on individuals, and a fitting portrayal of a selfish generation.’
Bergens Tidende
‘The Caricature gives an intelligent and satirical
outlook on the media’s focus on individuals, and a fitting portrayal of a selfish generation.’Bergens Tidende
‘With this new novel, Bortne demonstrates that he has something to show in terms of literature and storytelling abilities […] Bortne is a sharp observer and a good psychologist who, through the smallest details, sheds both light and shade over human traits, while simultaneously playing on humour and irony.’
Oddmund Hagen, Dag og Tid
‘The Caricature is a successful demonstration that literature, and not in-depth interviews, is probably the closest you can get to a description of all that is complicated and contradictory in human nature.’
Tina Åmodt, Bokmagasinet Klassekampen
‘In this novel it is easy to be entertained and amused by sharp, clever wordplay and the satirical use of Norwegian reality […]. Bortne’s sharp take on circumstances—in combination with an incredible talent for capturing situations and human behaviour—gives a depth to a story that at first glance appeared to be an uncomplicated tale.’
May Grethe Lerum, VG
