Growth of the Soil is considered one of Norwegian author Knut Hamsun's best novels. Along with Hunger, it won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. Considered by Charles Bukowski to be Hamsun's best, it is an alomost old testament man against nature kind of work. Knut Hamsun (31 years old) in 1890 Knut Hamsun (August 4, 1859 – February 19, 1952) was a leading Norwegian author and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature for 1920. ... Hunger (Sult) is a novel by the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun and was published in its final form in 1890. ... Nobel Prize in Literature medal. ...