Processing Manager Kelly Noble recommends The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard.
The School of Night is a captivating novel by Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard. The story is entertaining and, like much of Knausgaard’s writing, is deeply human and philosophical.
The story follows Kristian Hadeland, a young art student in London, as he winds his way through life and success. The novel is full of metaphors for self-doubt and uncertainty. There is also a thread of darkness running through the novel.
Think of the question, to what depths are you willing to go to in order to succeed?
Historically, the school of night referred to Renaissance thinkers and their radical ideas. The novel has a similar group of artists who seem to want to push the boundaries of art—Hans with his mechanical rats, Kristian with his photography, and Vivian with her plays. Success comes at a price; the real question is are you willing to pay the price for success? The novel is a spin on Christopher Marlow’s Dr. Faustus. A deal with the devil must be paid at some point.
Kristian finds success and has his art on display when things start to fall apart. This novel is a thriller centering on an encounter with a homeless guy, an old photograph with a cryptic message, and a mysterious bank deposit.
All seems explainable but taken together leads one to believe the obvious.
Knausgaard is in his element and is known for his ability to focus on the gritty details of life. This story has distasteful details that most readers probably would rather not hear about. !
Overall, this has been one of the best novels of 2026. I have enjoyed the story and the writing is superb. Like many of the books written by Knausgaard, I am sure there is a deeper point he is making. His writings tend to be philosophical and focus on things very human. I highly recommend this novel.
