Narrative Non-fiction · Hardback

Olav V. Lonely Majesty

Norwegian title: Olav V. Ensom majestet

Tore Rem

The third volume in the great story of King Olav V first and foremost revolves around the king’s deed, a lonely work where the king is missing a queen by his side. It’s about the rituals of the court, about everyday routines, about a hectic travel schedule, about jubilee after jubilee, about a man who at first struggles to follow in his mythical father’s footsteps, but nonetheless ends up decidedly a success; a well-loved king of the people.

Olav V. Lonely Majesty is a story about continuity, about a Norway that is growing and evolving, but also about a royal life characterised by longing and loneliness. It’s about decisions having to be made alone, about challenges on a personal level, about disabilities. Through different diaries, a range of personal archives and a large and until know unseen collection of letters we are invited in to not least the small Norwegian royal family, their British relatives, friend circle and court like never seen before. Finally in this book the author closely explores the death of a king which triggered a national mourning like none ever seen before.