Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson (born 8 December 1832 in Kvikne, Norway - died 26 April 1910 in Paris, France) was a Norwegianplaywright, author and poet who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1903.
His father was a Lutheran minister, but Bjørnson rejected organized religion. He married Karoline Reimers, a famous stage actress, and their son Bjørn also had great success as a stage actor, and appeared in a few early silent films. Their daughter, Bergljot, married Henrik Ibsen's son Sigurd.
He attended grammar school, Heltbergs Studentfabrikk in Oslo, with Henrik Ibsen, but dropped out of a course at the University of Oslo. By his early twenties he was writing literature reviews for the Norwegian newspaper, Morgenbladet. At 25 he wrote his first produced play, Mellem Slagene (Between the Battles). His Paul Lange og Tora Parsberg was a statement for political tolerance, and På Guds veie ("In God's Way") for religious tolerance. He is best known internationally for his tales of peasant life in Norway. His novel, Synnöve Solbakken, has been filmed three times. Bjørnson also worked as a stage director, and later served as editor of another paper, Aftenbladet, where he wrote fiery liberal editorials and passionately defended Alfred Dreyfus. His poem, "Yes, We Love This Land", is the Norwegian national anthem.
The cause of his death is unknown.
Questions and Answers
Q: Who was Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson?
A: Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian playwright, author and poet who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1903.
Q: What is his family background?
A: His father was a Lutheran minister, but Bjørnson rejected organized religion. He married Karoline Reimers, a famous stage actress, and their son Bjørn also had great success as a stage actor, and appeared in a few early silent films. Their daughter Bergljot married Henrik Ibsen's son Sigurd.
Q: Where did he attend school?
A: He attended grammar school at Heltbergs Studentfabrikk in Oslo with Henrik Ibsen, but dropped out of a course at the University of Oslo. By his early twenties he was writing literature reviews for the Norwegian newspaper Morgenbladet.
Q: What is one of his most well-known works?
A: He is best known internationally for his tales of peasant life in Norway. His novel Synnöve Solbakken has been filmed three times.
Q: What other activities did he engage in besides writing?
A: Besides writing, Bjørnson also worked as a stage director and later served as editor of another paper Aftenbladet where he wrote fiery liberal editorials and passionately defended Alfred Dreyfus.
Q: What poem did he write that became the Norwegian national anthem?
A: He wrote the poem "Yes We Love This Land" which became the Norwegian national anthem.
