A New Name: Septology VI-VII is the final installment in Jon Fosse‘s major prose work, which explores the human condition. It follows two versions of the same person, both painters grappling with existential questions, as they lead parallel lives. One lives alone on the coast of Norway and has two close friends, while the other is consumed by alcohol and lives in Bjørgvin. The book flashes back to when the two were younger, showing events such as meeting their loves, joining the church, and getting married, and culminates in the first painter agreeing to celebrate Christmas with his fisherman-friend and sister for the first time.

Written in slow, hypnotic prose, the novel is a captivating and distinctive read that delves into the human experience. The “slow tone” of the book offers a transcendent exploration of the human condition, resulting in a reading experience that is incantatory, hypnotic, and unlike anything else.