{{Short description|Norwegian illustrator, author of children's literature and organizer}} {{Use dmy dates | date=January 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Mette Newth | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age |1942|1|31|df=y}} | birth_place = Oslo, Norway | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | monuments = | other_names = | education = Ceramist and sculptor | alma_mater = | occupation = Illustrator, children's writer and educator | years_active = | employer = | organization = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | television = | spouse = {{marriage|Philip Newth|1963}} | partner = | children = Eirik Newth<br> Hege Newth | parents = | father = Fridtjof Knutsen | relatives = | awards = Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature }} '''Mette Cecilie Newth''' (born 31 January 1942) is a Norwegian illustrator, author of children's literature, and organizer. She received the Norwegian Critics Prize for Best children's book.
==Personal life== Mette Newth was born in Oslo as the daughter of journalist, crime writer and revue writer Fridtjof Knutsen and his wife Alfhild Gundersen (known as the crime writer Lalli Knutsen, and under the pseudonym Lalli Løvland). She married writer Philip Newth in 1963.<ref name=nbl>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Mette Newth |encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Gunvor |last=Risa |editor=Helle, Knut |editor-link=Knut Helle |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo |url=https://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Mette_Newth/utdypning |language=Norwegian |accessdate=7 March 2010}}</ref> The couple settled at Rykkinn in Bærum,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barum.folkebibl.no/barneavd/forfatterside.html|title=Forfattere med tilknytning til Bærum|publisher=Bærum Public Library|language=Norwegian|accessdate=26 February 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909180651/http://www.barum.folkebibl.no/barneavd/forfatterside.html|archivedate=9 September 2010}}</ref> and have a son Eirik Newth, an author<ref name=snlson>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Eirik Newth |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo |url=https://www.snl.no/Eirik_Newth |language=Norwegian |accessdate=10 March 2010}}</ref> and Hege Newth (1966-2025) who was a writer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bjørnsonfestivalen – Hege Newth er død |url=https://www.bjornsonfestivalen.no/nyheter-/hege-newth-er-dd |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=Bjørnsonfestivalen |language=no-NO}}</ref>
==Career== Mette Newth is educated as a ceramicist from the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry and has studied sculpture at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts. She made her literary debut in 1969 with the picture book ''Den lille vikingen''.<ref name=nbl/> Her breakthrough as illustrator came with ''Lille Skrekk'' from 1975, about a lizard child. Her book ''Skomakerdokka'' from 1977 was inspired by Alf Prøysen's stories. She has illustrated books for deaf children, using sign language. Her book ''Nora og ordene'' from 1979, about a deaf girl, uses both text and sign language. In cooperation with her husband Philip she made the picture book ''Ballsprett'' (1980) for mentally deficient children.<ref name=rottem2>{{cite book |title=Norges Litteraturhistorie. Etterkrigslitteraturen |pages=730–732 |first=Øystein |last=Rottem |author-link=Øystein Rottem |volume=2 |publisher=Cappelen |location=Oslo |year=1997 |language=Norwegian |isbn=82-02-16425-7 }}</ref> She received the Norwegian Critics Prize for Best children's book in 1985 for the children's book ''Soldreperen'', together with her husband and co-writer Philip Newth.<ref name=critics-prize-children>{{cite web|url=http://www.kritikerlaget.no/pages/nor/422-oversikt_over_mottakere_av_kritikerprisen_for_beste_skjoennlitteraere_barne_og_ungdomsbok |title=Mottakere av kritikerprisen for beste skjønnlitterære barne- og ungdomsbok |publisher=Norwegian Critics' Association|language=Norwegian |accessdate=12 March 2010 }}</ref> Her youth's novel ''Bortførelsen'' from 1987 (translated by Steven T. Murray and Tiina Nunnally as ''The Abduction'') received international recognition and was translated into 14 different languages. The novel treats the colonialization of Greenland in the 17th century, and includes elements from Inuit myths and legends. Her book ''Erobringen'' from 1988 is also about the Inuit. Among the picture books she has made in cooperation with the writer Paal-Helge Haugen are ''Vårfuglen'' from 1989, ''Gjennom steinen'' from 1990, and ''Eldsalamanderen'' from 1994.<ref name=rottem3>{{cite book |title=Norges Litteraturhistorie. Etterkrigslitteraturen |pages=233–235 |first=Øystein |last=Rottem |author-link=Øystein Rottem |volume=3 |publisher=Cappelen |location=Oslo |year=1998 |language=Norwegian |isbn=82-02-16426-5 }}</ref> In 1995, she received the critics' prize for the second time, for the children's book ''Det mørke lyset''.<ref name=critics-prize-children/> This novel treats the situation of the lepers in Norway in the early 19th century.<ref name=rottem3/> She chaired the organization Norwegian Writers for Children ({{lang|no|Ungdomslitteraturens forfatterlag}}) for two periods, from 1977 to 1979 and from 1981 to 1982.<ref name=nbl/> She was the rector of the Oslo National Academy of the Arts from 1999 to 2002.<ref name=snl>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Mette Newth |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |location=Oslo |url=https://www.snl.no/Mette_Newth |language=Norwegian |accessdate=7 March 2010}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control (arts)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newth, Mette}} Category:1942 births Category:Living people Category:Norwegian children's writers Category:Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature winners Category:Oslo National Academy of the Arts alumni Category:Academic staff of the Oslo National Academy of the Arts Category:Rectors of universities and colleges in Norway Category:Writers from Oslo Category:Writers from Bærum Category:Norwegian ceramists Category:Norwegian women ceramists Category:Norwegian women academics Category:Norwegian women children's writers Category:Women heads of universities and colleges