Hunger, first published in 1890, is Knut Hamsun’s intense psychological novel following an unnamed writer who wanders the streets of Kristiania (now Oslo), gripped by poverty, starvation, and mental instability. A pioneering work of literary modernism, Hunger delves into the fragmented inner life of its protagonist with raw emotion and existential depth. Hamsun’s stream-of-consciousness style and exploration of alienation influenced writers like Kafka and Hemingway. It remains a harrowing and innovative portrayal of desperation and artistic struggle.
