Literature: 1903

Bjornson, Bjornstjerne, pronounced BYURN suhn, BYURN styehr nuh (1832-1910), was a Norwegian poet, novelist, and playwright. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1903. Bjornson's work describes the Norwegian landscape and national character and reflects his intense patriotism and political activity. He was deeply involved in the political and moral controversies of his time.

During Bjornson's lifetime, he was as popular as the great Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen. However, Bjornson's reputation has declined. His lyrical prose and poems about the Norwegian countryside are now considered his best work.

Bjornson was born in Kvikne, near Trondheim, and grew up in an area known for its scenic beauty. His short novels Synnove Solbakken (1857) and Arne (1858) portray Norwegian peasant life. In his best historical play, Sigurd Slembe (1862), he reconstructed the Norwegian past and inspired Norwegians with patriotism. In the late 1800's, Bjornson became involved in the realism movement and wrote plays and novels about social issues of his time. His play Paul Lange and Tora Parsberg (1898) criticizes political intolerance.

Contributor: Niels Ingwersen, Cand. Mag., Professor of Scandinavian Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison.