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Back in the Day

By Oliver Lovrenski
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Brief Description
Taut, lyrical and utterly gripping – a headrush of a debut novel about four boys coming of age on the deprived outskirts of Oslo. Last night I got woke up by Marco ringing, and he was crying, he said, he died Ivor, he died, and I... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2800
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Taut, lyrical and utterly gripping – a headrush of a debut novel about four boys coming of age on the deprived outskirts of Oslo.

Last night I got woke up by Marco ringing, and he was crying, he said, he died Ivor, he died, and I didn’t need to hear who to know, I just hung up.

Ivor and Marco have been getting high since they were thirteen, started dealing at fourteen, by fifteen they were carrying knives. At sixteen years old, they hurtle from one trip to the next, one fight to the next, always watching their backs. Ivor dreams of getting out – finishing school, becoming a lawyer, marrying the girl he loves from the corner shop – but the path he's on only leads one way.

In flashes of firecracker prose, shot through with rare empathy, irrepressible wit and gut-punch pathos, Oliver Lovrenski gives voice to young men growing up in a brutal and chaotic world.

Back in the Day encapsulates the relentless struggle and poignant dreams of youth, offering readers an unforgettable journey into lives on the edge.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781405968157

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 April 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Contributors:

  • Translated by Nichola Smalley
  • Translated by Nichola Smalley

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 15.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 200g

Pages: 256

Collections

Addiction & Recovery Education & Reference Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Oliver Lovrenski Penguin Books

About the Author

Oliver Lovrenski (Author) Oliver Lovrenski has a Croatian background and he grew up in Norway. His debut novel, Back in the Day, was an instant number-one bestseller when it was published in Norway in 2023. It won the Oslo City Artist Prize, Norwegian Bookseller Prize (making Lovrenski the youngest winner in the prize's seventy-five-year history) and was shortlisted for the Brage Award and the Tarjei Vesaas Debut Prize. The Norwegian edition is now in its eighth print run. The English translation by Nichola Smalley will be published in hardback in 2025.

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  • Back in the Day
    Back in the Day is a taut, lyrical, and utterly gripping debut novel about four boys coming of age on the deprived outskirts of Oslo. Last night, I got woke up by Marco ringing, and he was crying. He said, "He died, Ivor, he died," and I didn't need to hear who to know. I just hung up. Ivor and...
    By Oliver Lovrenski
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    Ships in 4-6 weeks

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