Knut Hamsun biography

Transcription

1 Knut Hamsun biography 1859 Knut Hamsun is born August 4th in Gudbrandsdalen Norway. His parents are Peder Pedersen ( ) and Tora Pedersen born Olsen ( ) He is baptised in Garmo church Moves with his family to Hamsund in Hamarøy, northern Norway Several stays with his uncle Hans Olsen and Olsen s housekeeper. Knut s sister Sophia Marie, born in 1864, stays from birth on with the uncle Knut finishes school. Moves to Lom. Confirmation in Lom church October 4th. - Works as a shophand in the shop of his godfather Torsten Hesthagen. Returns to Hamarøy and is employed as a salesman at merchant Walsøe on Tranøy Travelling salesman in northern Norway Apprentice as shoemaker in Bodø His first book "Den gaadefulde" (The Enigmatic) is published in Tromsø at M. Urdal's publishing house, printed at G.Kjeldseth's printing works. - Works as a police officer in Bø, Vesterålen. Reads Bjørnson's peasant stories. Stops policework and starts teaching at the Kretsskole in Bø "Et gjensyn" (A Reunion) and "Bjørger" (Bjoerger) are published Knut Pedersen leaves Bø,Vesterålen. K. Zahl on Kjerringøy helps financially and Knut moves to Hardanger to become an author. Travels in autumn to the publisher Frederik Hegel in Copenhagen with the peasant story "Frida", which is refused.- Visits in December Bjørnson on Aulestad.- Moves to Kristiania, Tomtegaten 11, where he suffers distress the winter through Employment at the road works at Toten.- Reads Strindberg and the french naturalists. Gives talk on literature at Gjøvik Travels in January to USA. Works one year as a salesman in Elroy and harvesting on a farm in North Dakota Becomes secretary to Kristofer Janson in Minneapolis.- Meets Mark Twain.- Reads Nietzsche and all modern literature available.- Is taken ill in autumn and returns to Norway.- Moves late autumn to Auerdal in Valdres for convalescence.- Publishes smaller works. - After years of experimenting with his signature, he takes the name Hamsun Hamsun returns in winter to Kristiania. Again he suffers distress. Meets Arne Garborg, who doesn't encourage him. During summer he is on tour lecturing. - Returns in August to USA Works a couple of months as a tram conductor in Chicago, works later on a farm and as a journalist and lecturer in Minneapolis Leaves in summer USA and moves to Copenhagen. Meets Erik and Amalie Skram and the Brandes brothers. - November: The first chapters of "Sult" (Hunger) are published anonymous in the magazine "Ny Jord" in Copenhagen.

2 1889 January: Lectures at the student club in Copenhagen on the cultural life of modern America.- Travels to Valdres and Kristiania. Publishes "Fra det moderne Amerikas Aandsliv" (Cultural life of modern America) and "Lars Oftedal " - Works on "Sult" Back in Copenhagen. "Sult" is published as a book under his own name.- Travels to Lillesand, where he writes "Smaabyliv" (Village Life) and "Fra det ubeviste sjeleliv" (On the Unconscious) January-November: Lectures in different Norwegian towns.- "Hunger" is published in German by S. Fischer, Berlin. Lives in Sarpsborg and Kristiansund Leaves Kristiansund.- Travels to Copenhagen. In autumn "Mysterier" (Mysteries) is published.- Lives different places "Redaktør Lynge" (Editor Lynge) is published in spring. Travels to Paris.- In autumn "Ny Jord" (Shallow Soil) Meets Strindberg in Paris.- During summer travels to Kristiansand. "Pan" is published in autumn.- Back to Paris. Meets from time to time with Verlaine, Gauguin, Herman Bang, Johan Bojer, Albert Langen The play "Ved rikets port" (At the Gate of the Kingdom) is published.- Travels in summer to Faaberg, Kristiania and Ljan, where he works on the play "Livets spil (The Game of Life) Meets Edvard Munch, who makes an etching of him. - Travels to Munich where he is a guest of his German publisher Albert Langen. Meets Bjørnson.-In summer back to Norway. Writes short stories for Simplicissimus. Lives in Auerdal at Frydenlund s and other places in Valdres.- In autumn to Kristiania.- October 28th first performance of "Ved rigets port" in Christiania Theater.- December 4th first performance of "Livets spil" in Christiania Theater Lives mostly in Ms. Hammer s boarding house in Ljan.- January 30th lecture "Om overvurdering av diktere og diktning" (On the Overrating of Poets and Poetry) - Meets Bergljot Goepfert, born Bech.- Collection of short stories "Siesta" (The Ring, Just an ordinary fly of average size) Hamsun marries Bergljot on May 13th.- They settle in Auerdal.- First performance of "Aftenrøde" (Sunset) October 10th in Christiania Theater.- "Victoria" is published.- Mr. and Ms. Hamsun move to Helsinki Meets Albert Engstrøm and Jean Sibelius.- In May lecture at Helsinki University on "Digterliv" (Life of a Poet) - In summer: Travel through Russia, Caucasia, Turkey Lives in Copenhagen.- April: Travels to Hamarøy, where he works on "Munken Vendt".-In autumn back to Copenhagen Lives in Kristiania and Copenhagen. Works on the papers from the orient travel The daughter Victoria is born.- "Munken Vendt" is published.- Hamsun s homage to Bjørnson is published He publishes "I Æventyrland" (In Wonderland), "Kratskog" (Short Stories) and "Dronning Tamara" (Queen Tamara).- Gustav Vigeland makes a bust of Hamsun Collection of poems "Det vilde kor" (Wild Choir-Island of the coast) - Articles in Forposten.- "Sværmere" (Dreamers) is published.- Hamsun is awarded Houens Legat. Stays

3 in Kristiania, Drøbak and København.- Meets Johannes V. Jensen. First performance of "Dronning Tamara" 15 January at Nationalteatret i Kristiania" Builds a house and settles in Drøbak.- Participates in the independence struggle with articles and poems.- Publishes the collection of short stories "Stridende liv" (On the Island) Divorced.- Hamsun stays in the boarding house "Utsikten" in Nordstrand. Works on the first vagabond books. "Under høststjærnen" (Wanderers Under the Autumn Star) is published Hamsuns father dies March 17th.- Lecture "Ærer de unge" (Honour the Youth)- In summer stay in Kongsberg April: Meets Marie Andersen.- "Benoni" is published.- In summer again stay in Kongsberg.- June 17th speech in Kristiania on Wergeland s 100 years celebration.- In autumn "Rosa" is published Hamsun marries Marie Andersen June 25th. They settle at Sollien.- In autumn "En vandrer spiller med sordin" (A Wanderer Plays on Muted Strings) January: Article in Morgenbladet: "Teologen i Æventyrland" (The Theologian in Wonderland) April Bjørnson dies. Hamsun s homage.- Moves to Elverum and Koppang.- Articles in Verdens Gang: "Landets sprog" (The State s Language) and "Et ord til os" (A Word to Us).- The play "Livet ivold" (The Grip of Life) first performed at Nationaltheatret, Kristiania November 16th Settles on Hamarøy as a poet and a farmer The son Tore is born March 6th.- In autumn "Den siste glæde" (Look back on Happiness) is published Lives partly home and partly in Bodø.- In autumn "Børn av tiden" (Children of the Age) is published The son Arild is born May 3rd..- Hamsun lives at home and in Bardu.- August: First World War starts and Hamsun is on Germany s side. Fight in the press with Professor Collin and W. Archer January the article "Barnet" (The Child) in Morgenbladet.- Hamsun works in Harstad on "Segelfoss by" (Segelfoss Town), which is published later in the year.- Birth of the daughter Ellinor 23. October Moves from place to place in Nordland to gain peace to work on "Markens grøde" (Growth of the Soil). Lives mostly at the farm Kråkmo Spring: Hamsun sells "Skogheim" on Hamarøy and moves to Larvik, Jegersborggatan 10.- The daughter Cecilia is born May 13th.- Essay in Aftenposten 12 July: "Nabobyen" (The neighbouring Town).- In autumn "Markens grøde" is published Still looking for a farm in the country.- Publishes the leaflet "Sproget i fare" (The Language in Danger) - In autumn: The Hamsun family moves to Nørholm Hamsun s mother dies 6. January.- He is now a farmer on Nørholm Spring: Works mainly in Arendal.- In autumn "Konerne ved vandposten" (The Women at the Pump) is published.- December 10th. Hamsun is awarded the Nobel Price in Stockholm.

4 1921 Rebuilding of Nørholm.- Works in Arendal. "Dikte" (Poems) is published The poets cottage at Nørholm is build.- Works in Arendal and on Nørholm In autumn "Siste kapitel" (Chapter the Last) is published Hamsun works in his poet's cottage and in Lillesand. A difficult period, where nothing will succeed Winter: Lives in Victoria Hotel in Oslo and consults a psychiatrist from January to July.- Summer: Back to Nørholm, where he writes first part of "Landstrykere" (Vagabonds).- In autumn Hamsun moves with his family to Bygdø, Museumsveien Moves in spring back to Nørholm.- In autumn "Landstrykere" is published Works in the poets cottage and in Lillesand.- In Aftenposten 12. December the article "Festina lente" All the world is celebrating Hamsun on his 70. Birthday August 4th The winter is spent in Aurdal, in spring back to Nørholm.- Hamsun is taken ill in autumn and goes through an operation at Arendal Hospital.- "August" (August) is published Long convalescence. In January he travels to the french riviera for a couple of weeks and in summer to Aurdal. Tries to work Still convalescent, but works in the poets cottage and in Egersund In autumn "Men livet lever" (The Road leads on) is published In April he visits France. Summer in Lillesand and on Nørholm.- He refuses the German Mark Goethe-Price, but accepts the Goethe-Medal Works in Oslo and on Nørholm.- Article in Aftenposten 22. November on "Ossietzky" In summer "Ringen sluttet" (The Ring is closed) is published Occupies himself entirely with farming on Nørholm., approaching deafness March - June: Stays in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia. Tries to write a continuation of "Ringen sluttet", but has to give up Hamsun is 80 years old on 4. August and is again celebrated by all the world.- September: Second world war starts and Hamsun s sympathies are again on German side April: German troops occupy Norway. Hamsun is in opposition to his compatriots Lives quietly at Nørholm. Writes German friendly articles, but takes actions to help compatriots in German captivity Tempestuous meeting with Hitler in Berchtesgaden, where Hamsun complain about the German Commissioner in Norway, Terboven Lives quietly and withdrawn on Nørholm. Tries constantly by applications to save Norwegians from death penalties.

5 May: All German troops in Norway surrender May: Mr and Ms Hamsun under house arrest on Nørholm June: Internment at Grimstad Hospital June: Hamsun before the magistrate in Grimstad.- Makes notes for "Paa gjengrodde stier" (On overgrown Paths).- 2. September: Hamsun is moved to the nursing home in Landvik September: Again before the magistrate in Grimstad October: Transfer to Psychiatric Hospital, Oslo February: Released from Psychiatric Hospital and transferred to Landvik nursing home. Heavily impaired after the treatment at the psychiatric hospital, but tries to work.- The court case is postponed several times December: Hamsun before the court in Grimstad. He is fined kroner (though chief judge konst.sorenskriver Eide dissented and acquitted Hamsun). After the verdict Hamsun returns to Nørholm Hamsun finishes "Paa gjengrodde stier", which is published the year after.- Midsummer Day: The Supreme Court reduces the fine to kroner and Hamsun stops writing Lives quietly and retired at Nørholm.- Vision and hearing fail February: Knut Hamsun dies in his bedroom on Nørholm. He is buried on Nørholm. Hamsun's works: 1877 Den Gaadefulde (novel) 1878 Et Gjensyn (poem) 1878 Bjørger (novel) 1889 Lars Oftedal (articles) 1889 Fra det moderne Amerikas Aandsliv (articles) 1890 Sult (novel) 1892 Mysterier (novel) 1893 Redaktør Lynge (novel) 1893 Ny Jord (novel) 1894 Pan (novel) 1895 Ved rikets port (play; 1.part of the socalled Kareno-trilogy) 1896 Livets spil (play; 2. part of the socalled Kareno-trilogy) 1897 Siesta (short stories) 1898 Aftenrøde (play; 3. part of the socalled Kareno-trilogy) 1898 Victoria (novel) 1902 Munken Vendt (dramatised verse)

6 1903 I Æventyrland (travel book/novel) 1903 Kratskog (short stories) 1903 Dronning Tamara (play) 1904 Det vilde kor (poems) 1904 Sværmere (novel) 1905 Stridende liv (short stories) 1906 Under høststjærnen (novel; 1. part of the socalled Vandrer-trilogy) 1908 Benoni (1. part of Benoni and Rosa) 1908 Rosa (2. part of Benoni androsa) 1909 En vandrer spiller med sordin (novel; 2. part of the socalled Vandrer-trilogy) 1910 Livet ivold (play) 1912 Den siste glede (novel; 3. part of the socalled Vandrer-trilogy) 1913 Børn av tiden ( 1. part of the socalled Segelfoss books) 1915 Segelfoss by (2. part of the socalled Segelfoss books) 1917 Markens grøde (novel) 1918 Sproget i fare (article) 1920 Konerne ved vannposten (novel) 1923 Siste kapitel (novel) 1927 Landstrykere (novel; 1. part of the socalled August-trilogy) 1930 August (novel; 2. part of the socalled August-trilogien) 1933 Men livet lever (novel; 3. part of the socalled August-trilogy) 1936 Ringen sluttet (novel) 1939 Artikler i utvalg 1949 Paa gjengrodde stier (novel) 1960 Paa turné (posthumt) 1994 Fra det ubevidste sjæleliv (posthumt) 1995 Lurtonen (posthumt) 1997 novelen om Reban, Hamsuns ukjente ungdomsverk (posthumt)

7 2003 En fløjte lød i mit blod, Nye dikt. (posthumt) Kilde: