NORWAY

 

DAMM - published circa 1950s Fr�ken Detektiv Nancy is known simply as "Miss Detective" in Norway. Bess, George, Helen and Carson keep their names; only Hannah becomes "Hanna." In the children's literary journal The Lion and the Unicorn (vol. 18, No.1, June 1994), Kari Skj�nsberg indicates that six Nancy Drew stories were translated into Norwegian in 1941, making them the earliest known foreign editions of this series. Skj�nsberg goes on to explain that, although the Drew books were officially on the (Nazi-installed) government's list of forbidden books, they continued to be produced until paper supplies ran low due to the war. Skj�nsberg further details that the covers of the first Damm book was Harald Damsleth, who was a foremost artist in the propaganda work of the Nazi party. Nancy became more popular in Norway during the 1950s, and my example to the right is a book from this era. The illustrations signed "George" are some of my favorites - akin to the "classic ethereal" Nancys of Russell Tandy's, to borrow a phrase from Karen Plunkett-Powell. They portray Nancy and her chums as competent yet feminine - look, George Fayne even has a fancy hairdo! Norwegian collector Nils Nordberg indicates that the full name of the artist is a *woman* named George Schumann - how's that for coincidences. All the Norwegian stories were translated by either Eugenie Winther or Wenche Norberg-Schulz (these two women were sisters). An interesting departure in this series is that Norwegian Nancy has a red coupe, instead of her traditional blue car.

Digest size hardback - 7 1/2" H x 5" W; matte appliqu� cover, ochre cloth spine with Carolyn Keene, FR�KEN DETEKTIV, series # (one some 1/2" books), partial ND silhouette and Damm logo in green ink. Comes in 1/2" and 3/4" spine thicknesses. No internal illustrations.

Fr�ken Detektiv drar nordover (The Message in the Hollow Oak). Artwork by George Schumann, copyright � 1956 by Lie & Co. s Boktrykkeri, Oslo.

Norwegian Title	U.S. Title	Translation	Norwegian #
Fr�ken Detektiv (og det forsvunne testamentet)	Old Clock	Miss Detective (Nancy and the missing will)	1
Fr�ken Detektiv p� sp�kelsesjakt	Hidden Staircase	Nancy on a ghost hunt	2
Fr�ken Detektiv betaler gjelden sin	Bungalow Mystery	Nancy pays her debt	3
Fr�ken Detektiv m�ter "trekanten"	Lilac Inn	Nancy meets the "Triangle"	4
Fr�ken Detektiv i Arizona	Shadow Ranch	Nancy in Arizona	5
Fr�ken Detektiv og slangekolonien	Red Gate Farm	Nancy and the "snake colony"	6
Fr�ken Detektiv p� ferde igjen	Clue in Diary	Nancy on the move again	7
Fr�ken Detektiv l�ser en dobbeltoppgave	Mysterious Letter	Nancy carries out a double task	8
Fr�ken Detektiv og t�rnet med de vridde lys	Twisted Candles	Nancy and the tower with the twisted candles	9
Fr�ken Detektiv finner l�senet/passordet	Larkspur Lane	Nancy finds the password	10
Fr�ken Detektiv og tvillingsaken	Broken Locket	Nancy and the twins case	11
Fr�ken Detektiv drar nordover	Hollow Oak	Nancy goes North	12
Fr�ken Detektiv og elfenbensamuletten	Ivory Charm	Nancy and the ivory amulet	13
Fr�ken Detektiv og marmorst�tten	Whispering Statue	Nancy and the marble statue	14
Fr�ken Detektiv og sp�kelsesbroen	Haunted Bridge	Nancy and the haunted bridge	15
Fr�ken Detektiv og de mystiske sko	Tapping Heels	Nancy and the mysterious shoes	16
Fr�ken Detektiv p� skattejakt	Missing Map	Nancy on a treasure hunt	17
Fr�ken Detektiv og det mystiske smykkeskrinet	Jewel Box	Nancy and the mysterious jewel box	18
Fr�ken Detektiv og det hemmelighetsfulle loftet	Old Attic	Nancy and the mysterious attic	19
Fr�ken Detektiv og det mystiske slottet	Crumbling Wall	Nancy and the mysterious castle	20
Fr�ken Detektiv og koffertmysteriet	Brass-Bound Trunk	Nancy and the trunk mystery	21
Fr�ken Detektiv og mosegrodde huset	Moss-Covered Mansion	Nancy and the moss-covered house	22
Fr�ken Detektiv og den mystiske klokke	Tolling Bell	Nancy and the mysterious bell	23
Fr�ken Detektiv og sig�ynernes hemmelighet	Old Album	Nancy and the secret of the gypsies	24
Fr�ken Detektiv og sp�kelsehuset	Blackwood Hall	Nancy and the haunted house	25
Fr�ken Detektiv og den kinesiske g�ten	Leaning Chimney	Nancy and the Chinese riddle	26

DAMM 1970s-2010s N.W. Damm & S�n continued to publish the Fr�ken Detektiv books but updated the covers, similar to the way Grosset & Dunlap commissioned new artwork for the U.S. editions. There are three formats as described below. The earlier features a thinner, orange-spined book with more dramatic artwork by Per Svin�. The later format utilizes the British artwork from the Armada paperbacks that were available at the time. However, I noticed that sometimes they used the cover art from a different title; for example, the Format III cover of Jewel Box uses the Armada Format C artwork from Twin Dilemma. In conjunction with the "Nye Fr�ken Detektiv" series (see below), Damm re-released its former catalog of Nancy Drew titles.  The "Format IV" books are discernable from earlier editions as they match the "Nye" books in terms of the bright yellow spine.  Art by Per Svin� has been recycled from the "Format II" books.
Damm Format II 1970s-1980s	Damm Format III 1980s-1990s	Damm Format IV 2010s Fr�ken Detektiv Klassiker
Fr�ken Detektiv l�ser en dobbelt oppgave (Nancy's Mysterious Letter). Artwork by Per Svin�, copyright � by N.W. Damm & S�n, Oslo.	Fr�ken Detektiv og den kinesiske g�ten (The Clue of the Leaning Chimney). Artwork unattributed copyright � 1984 Armada.	Fr�ken Detektiv finner passordet (Password to Larkspur Lane). Artwork by Per Svin�, copyright � by N.W. Damm & S�n, Oslo.
Digest size hardback - 7 1/2" H x 5" W; matte or semi-gloss cover: orange spine with Carolyn Keene, FR�KEN DETEKTIV, series #, partial ND silhouette and Damm logo in green ink. 1/2" spine thicknesses. No internal illustrations.	Digest size glossy hardback - 7 1/2" H x 5 1/8" W; Fr�ken Detektiv logo and title on spine, number at base.	Tall digest glossy hardback 8 1/2" H x 5 1/2" W; head and magnifying glass logo, number, Carolyn Keene, title

DAMM EGMONT  2007-2011 Nye Fr�ken Detektiv The Girl Detective stories had a good run in Norway with 16 titles published.  They recycled the Swedish covers by Andreas Bennwik and were translated by Kari Engen.  At the time of the release of the "Nye" (new) series it had been 50 years since a new Nancy title was released by Damm, and 20 since they had created a new format.  The back cover of these books featured a large silhouette face and hand with magnifying glass, somewhat reminiscent of the Minstrel paperback covers of the early 2000s. Many of the Norwegian books were produced as audiobooks and offered on CDs which included the artwork on the jewel case.  The last book published was a story from the classic paperback series.

tall digest hardback 8 1/2" H x 5 1/2" W; bright yellow spine with head & hand with magnifying glass logo at top, volume #, Carolyn Keene, Nye Fr�ken Detektiv, Damm logo

Fr�ken Detektiv: Uten et Spor (Without a Trace). Artwork by Andreas Bennwik, copyright � 2005 by ScandBook AB, Falun .

Lille Fr�ken Detektiv 8 stories from the Nancy Drew Notebooks series were published by Cappelen Damm, the 1990s iteration of the publishing company.  I like the idea of "Lil" Nancy! They created some nice graphics which would presumably appeal to the younger readers and recycled the US cover artwork.  However they elected not to include the Anthony Accardo internals that were found in the American editions.

tall digest hardback 8 1/2" H x 5 1/2" W

Lille Fr�ken Detektiv: Serietr�bbel (Trouble at Camp Treehouse). Artwork by Aleta Jenks, copyright � 1995 by Simon & Schuster, US.

Norwegian Title	U.S. Title	Date
Den skumle bursdagen	Slumber Party Secret	2008
Det forsvunne halskjedet	The Lost Locket	2008
Gavemysteriet	Secret Santa	2009
Tyven p� ballettskolen	Bad Day for Ballet	2009
Fotballmysteriet	Soccer Shoe Clue	2009
Iskalde spor	Ice Cream Scoop	2009
Ferietr�bbel	Trouble at Camp Treehouse	2011
Den beste detektiven	The Best Detective	2012

FORLAGSHUSET - Oslo Detektiv Nancy Drew Detektiv Nancy Drew tar saken (Nancy Drew Files) Forlagshuset picked up the rights to the later titles in the Nancy Drew series (#27 and higher) and continues to publish their editions to this day. They also published versions of #5, #11, #12 and #18, based on the revised texts, even though the original versions would have been within Damm's realm. The texts of these 4 titles were stories where the plots were completely changed during the revisions. The Forlagshuset covers are often redrawn versions of the Rudy Nappi art from the U.S. editions. Usually the characters are in the exact same positions, but sometimes it is just the same scene from the story depicted slightly differently. Forlagshuset does currently have titles in print, including several from the "classic" series, and some from the Nancy Drew Files series.

Digest size hardback - light yellow, bumpy cloth spine with red ink: Carolyn Keene, DETEKTIV NANCY DREW, 1950s ND silhouette, volume #, Forlagshuset "1905 house" logo

Detektiv Nancy Drew og det stj�lne armb�nd (The Ringmaster's Secret). Artwork unattributed but signed "Sten Nilsen," copyright � by A/S Forlagshuset, Oslo.

Norwegian Title	American Title	Translation	Norwegian #
Detektiv Nancy Drew og de sorte n�klene	Black Keys	Nancy and the black keys	27
Detektiv Nancy Drew og gallionsfigurens g�te	Wooden Lady	Nancy and the riddle of the figurehead	28
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den mystiske skil�per	Ski Jump	Nancy and the mysterious ski-runner	29
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med den sorte maske	Velvet Mask	Nancy and the black mask	30
Detektiv Nancy Drew og det stj�lne armb�nd	Ringmaster's Secret	Nancy and the stolen bracelet	31
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med ballettskoene	Scarlet Slipper	Nancy and the mystery of the ballet shoes	32
Detektiv Nancy Drew og det mystiske heksetegn	Witch Tree Symbol	Nancy and the mysterious witch sign	33
Detektiv Nancy Drew og det forsvunne glassmaleri	Hidden Window	Nancy and the lost glass-painting	34
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den forheksete b�t	Haunted Showboat	Nancy and the haunted boat	35
Detektiv Nancy Drew og gullpaviljongens hemmelighet	Golden Pavilion	Nancy and the secret of the golden pavilion	36
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med den gamle diligencen	Old Stagecoach	Nancy and the mystery of the old stagecoach	37
Detektiv Nancy Drew og drakemysteriet	Fire Dragon	Nancy and the dragon mystery	38
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med den dansende dukken	Dancing Puppet	Nancy and the mystery of the dancing puppet	39
Detektiv Nancy Drew og m�nesten-mysteriet	Moonstone Castle	Nancy and the moonstone mystery	40
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den mystiske sekkepipen	Whistling Bagpipes	Nancy and the mysterious bagpipes	41
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med fantomtyven	Pine Hill	Nancy and the mystery of the phantom thief	42
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med de 99 trin	99 Steps	Nancy and the mystery of the 99 steps	43
Detektiv Nancy Drew og apemysteriet	Crossword Cipher	Nancy and the monkey mystery	44
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med sp�kelseshesten	Shadow Ranch RT	Nancy and the mystery with the ghost horse	45
Detektiv Nancy Drew og safirmysteriet	Spider Sapphire	Nancy and the sapphire mystery	46
Detektiv Nancy Drew og de falske grammofonplater	Broken Locket RT	Nancy and the false grammophone records	47
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med den usynlige banden	Invisible Intruder	Nancy and the mystery of the invisible gang	48
Detektiv Nancy Drew of mysteriet med utstillingsfiguren	Mysterious Mannequin	Nancy and the mystery of the mannequin	49
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den g�tfulle Banister	Crooked Bannister	Nancy and the mysterious Banister	50
Detektiv Nancy Drew m�ter spionligaen	Moss-Covered Mansion RT	Nancy meets the spy ring	51
Detektiv Nancy Drew og Speilbuktens hemmelighet	Mirror Bay	Nancy and the secret of Mirror Bay	52
Detektiv Nancy Drew og det hemmelige budskap	Hollow Oak RT	Nancy and the secret message	53
Detektiv Nancy Drew og trolldomsmysteriet	Double Jinx	Nancy andthe witchcraft/magic mystery	54
Detektiv Nancy Drew og gl�dende �yet	Glowing Eye	Nancy and the glowing eye	55
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den glemte by	Forgotten City	Nancy and the forgotten city	56
Detektiv Nancy Drew og det stj�lne flyet	Sky Phantom	Nancy and the stolen airplane	57
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den bortf�rte gutten	Strange Message in Parchment	Nancy and the kidnapped boy	58
Detektiv Nancy Drew og krokodillemysteriet	Crocodile Island	Nancy and the crocodile mystery	59
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den trettende perlen (sometimes listed as DND og den 13. perle)	Thirteenth Pearl	Nancy and the thirteenth pearl	60
Detektiv Nancy Drew og tryllesvindelen	Triple Hoax	Nancy and the magic hoax	61
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den flyvende tallerken	Flying Saucer	Nancy and the flying saucer	62
Detektiv Nancy Drew og kniplingmysteriet	Old Lace	Nancy and the lace mystery	63
Detektiv Nancy Drew og det greske mysteriet	Greek Symbol	Nancy and the greek mystery	64
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mannen uten hukommelse	Swami's Ring	Nancy and the man without a memory	65
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med indianerdukkene	Kachina Doll	Nancy and the mystery of the indian dolls	66
Detektiv Nancy Drew og modellsvindelen	Twin Dilemma	Nancy and the design fraud	67
Detektiv Nancy Drew blir kidnappet	Captive Witness	Nancy is kidnapped	68
Detektiv Nancy Drew og hertuginnens hemmelighet	Winged Lion	Nancy and the secret of the duchess	69
Detektiv Nancy Drew og veddel�pssvindelen	Race Against Time	Nancy and the racetrack fraud	70
Detektiv Nancy Drew og det onde varsel	Sinister Omen	Nancy and the evil omen	71
Detektiv Nancy Drew og katten med smaragd�ynene	Emerald Eyed Cat	Nancy and the cat with the emerald eyes	72
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet med gullskatten	Broken Anchor	Nancy and the mystery of the gold treasure	73
Detektiv Nancy Drew p� heksejakt	Bluebeard Room	Nancy goes witch-hunting	74
Detektiv Nancy Drew forelsker seg	Phantom of Venice	Nancy falls in love	75
Detektiv Nancy Drew og eskimomysteriet	Eskimo's Secret	Nancy and the eskimo mystery	76
Detektiv Nancy Drew og dobbeltmysteriet	Elusive Heiress	Nancy and the double mystery	77
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den r�de edderkopp	Silver Cobweb	Nancy and the red spider	78
Detektiv Nancy Drew og sp�kelseskarusellen	Haunted Carousel	Nancy and the haunted carousel	79
Detektiv Nancy Drew fanget i fellen	Fenley Place	Nancy caught in the trap	80
Detektiv Nancy Drew og diamantmysteriet	Disappearing Diamonds	Nancy and the diamond mystery	81
Detektiv Nancy Drew og mysteriet i t�kejuvet	Misty Canyon	Nancy and the mystery of the misty canyon	82
Detektiv Nancy Drew og den forsvunne arvingen	Vanishing Veil	Nancy and the lost heir	83
Detektiv Nancy Drew og kirkeg�rdens hemmelighet	Shady Glen	Nancy and the secret of the graveyard	84
Detektiv Nancy Drew og hulens hemmelighet	Craven Cove	Nancy and the secret of the cave	85
Detektiv Nancy Drew rett i fellen	Clue in Camera	Nancy straight in the trap	86
Hemmeligheten i t�rnet	Buried Secrets (files title)	The secret of the tower	87
Detektive Nancy Drew og den fatale ulykken	Mardi Gras	Nancy and the fatal accident	88
Detektiv Nancy Drew med bombe i lasten	Wings of Fear (files title)	Nancy with a bomb in the cargo	89
Detektiv Nancy Drew d�delige forbindelser	Very Deadly Yours (files title)		90
Detektiv Nancy Drew spokelseshistorier	Ghost Stories
Detektiv Nancy Drew spokelseshistorier 2	Ghost Stories 2

Nancy Drew Tar Saken titles (Nancy Drew Files)

The titles below are marketed as the "Nancy Drew Tar Saken" series - a distinctly separate entity from the "Detektiv Nancy Drew" books. However, Forlagshuset seems to have mixed up a few of the manuscripts that were sent by Simon & Schuster, and therefore two stories that were issued as Files in the States were published under the "Detektiv Nancy Drew" logo, and one "classic" title is listed below as a "saken." Oops!

Norwegian Title	American Title	Translation	#
Kamp p� liv og d�d	Murder on Ice	Battle of life and death	1
Det skjulte kameraet	Secrets Can Kill	The hidden camera	2
Til d�den skiller oss ad	Till Death Do Us Part	Till death do us part	3
Nancy sl�r til	Heart of Danger	Nancy hits home	4
Nancy g�r i vannet	Hit & Run Holiday	Nancy is fooled	5
Nancy avsl�rer gjengangeren	Make No Mistake	Nancy unmasks the ghost	6
Skrik i natten	Stranger in the Shadows (classic title)	A scream in the night	7
Hevnaksjonen	White Water Terror	The revenge action	8
H�yt spill	Deadly Doubles	High stakes	9
Pengeutpresseren	This Side of Evil	The blackmailer	10
Siste stikk til Nancy	Fatal Ransom	Nancy wins the game	11	Nancy Drew Tar Saken - H�yt spill (Deadly Doubles). Artwork by Enric, copyright � 1987 by Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, NY.

EGMONT SERIEFORLAGET AS - Oslo   2007 Deteketiv Nancy Drew Four of the Girl Detective graphic novels originally published by Papercutz in America were translated for the Norwegian market.  The cover was reformatted and incorporated Nancy's trusty magnifying glass.  I much prefer the image of Nancy in her 1930s roadster to the one on the American cover.
Digest size hardback - 7 3/4" H x 5" W	Detektiv Nancy Drew Skrift i Stein (Writ in Stone). Artwork by Sho Murase, copyright � 2005 by Papercutz, New York NY.

In 1999 NRK Radio (the national public radio station of Norway) produced a radio serial of "The Sign of the Twisted Candles," dramaticized by Norwegian Nancy Drew enthusiast Nils Nordberg. There have also been further productions based on Password to Larkspur Lane, The Secret of Red Gate Farm and The Secret in the Old Attic.  

During the summer of 2001, a "Nancy Drew tribute" musical was produced in the town of Fredrikstad, Norway entitled "Den syngende fr�ken Detektiv og mysteriet p� Grevly" (The Singing Girl Detective and the Grevly Mystery). It was very well received and may be staged in Oslo soon.  For more information about these productions click here.
 

A million "thank yous" to Nils Nordberg for his considerable help with the titles and translations used on this page.

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Last updated 4 May 2016