The second half of the last century, with the Nobel-Prize-winning Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and the world famous playwright Henrik Ibsen leading the way, is known as "The Golden Age". Knut Hamsun began his writing career around the turn of the century, followed by Sigrid Undset (Nobel Prize winners in 1920 and 1928).

Among the best known Norwegian writers today are Knut Faldbakken, Jostein Gaarder, Kjell Askildsen, Roy Jacobsen, Herbjørg Wassmo and Bjørg Vik.