Andreas Paulson
Encyclopedia
Andreas Paulson was a Norwegian bank accountant, literary critic and theatre critic.
He was born in Bergen
as the son of politician Olav Paulssøn
(1822–1896) and Anna Kristine Christofa Hagerup (1824–1917). His family had moved from Jølster
the year before he was born, and Paulson spent most of his life in Bergen. He married Amalia Marie Geist in October 1888. He was a younger brother of Ragnvald Paulson
.
Paulson did not finish his secondary education, but he spent formative years in the bohemianist
movement and later the labour movement
. In 1895 he was hired as a literary and theatre critic in the socialist newspaper Arbeidet
. From 1898 he was also a music critic. He worked here until 1929, and then in Bergens Arbeiderblad from 1929 to 1941 with a second period after World War II. He also wrote humorous texts, both in Bergens Arbeiderblad and Hvepsen
. The newspaper Arbeidet both belonged to the Labour Party
(from 1905) and the Communist Party
(from 1923) while Paulson worked in the newspaper, but as he was not involved in party politics
, he was not affected by the schism between the two parties. His roots was in the labour movement as such, and he was widely known for his book Hvad skal Arbeiderne læse? (1914), where he sought to propagate the interest of literature in the working class. He believed in the concept of class struggle
as a driving force in history
, but also in the refinement and actions of individuals
; being described by professor Harald Beyer
as "an independent individualist".
Nonetheless, he was also involved in more bourgeois endeavors, being a consultant for the theatre Den Nationale Scene
from 1928 to 1933. He also contributed to the biographical dictionary Norsk biografisk leksikon
, and supported Riksmål as a written form of the Norwegian language. Parallel to his writing career, he worked for the Bank of Norway, being an accountant in its Bergen
branch from 1901 until his retirement in 1929. He was honored with a Festschrift
on his ninetieth birthday. He died in March 1953 in Bergen. He was a grandfather of Finn Ludt and Bjørn Paulson
.
He was born in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
as the son of politician Olav Paulssøn
Olav Paulssøn
Olav Paulssøn was a Norwegian bailiff, writer and politician.He served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament in 1859, representing the constituency of Nordre Bergenhus Amt. He lived in Jølster at the time, where he was bailiff from 1855 to 1860. In 1860 he was hired as CEO of...
(1822–1896) and Anna Kristine Christofa Hagerup (1824–1917). His family had moved from Jølster
Jølster
Jølster is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Skei...
the year before he was born, and Paulson spent most of his life in Bergen. He married Amalia Marie Geist in October 1888. He was a younger brother of Ragnvald Paulson
Ragnvald Paulson
Paul Ragnvald Paulson was a Norwegian book publisher and politician for the Labour Party.He hailed from Bergen and was an older brother of Andreas Paulson...
.
Paulson did not finish his secondary education, but he spent formative years in the bohemianist
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
movement and later the labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
. In 1895 he was hired as a literary and theatre critic in the socialist newspaper Arbeidet
Arbeidet
Arbeidet was a Norwegian newspaper, published in Bergen in Hordaland county.Arbeidet was started in Bergen as a socialist newspaper on 6 December 1893, by a grouping called . It was the first socialist daily newspaper in Norway...
. From 1898 he was also a music critic. He worked here until 1929, and then in Bergens Arbeiderblad from 1929 to 1941 with a second period after World War II. He also wrote humorous texts, both in Bergens Arbeiderblad and Hvepsen
Hvepsen
Hvepsen was a Norwegian humorous and satirical magazine.It was founded in 1905 by people involved in the labour movement in Kristiania, including Joh. Johansen. Ole O. Lian, Marius Ormestad, Lyder Strøm and Hans Østerholt. Østerholt was the editor-in-chief from 1905 to 1925.Illustrators for...
. The newspaper Arbeidet both belonged to the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
(from 1905) and the Communist Party
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
(from 1923) while Paulson worked in the newspaper, but as he was not involved in party politics
Party Politics
Party Politics is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes papers in the field of Political Science. The journal's editors are David M Farrell and Paul Webb...
, he was not affected by the schism between the two parties. His roots was in the labour movement as such, and he was widely known for his book Hvad skal Arbeiderne læse? (1914), where he sought to propagate the interest of literature in the working class. He believed in the concept of class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....
as a driving force in history
Teleology
A teleology is any philosophical account which holds that final causes exist in nature, meaning that design and purpose analogous to that found in human actions are inherent also in the rest of nature. The word comes from the Greek τέλος, telos; root: τελε-, "end, purpose...
, but also in the refinement and actions of individuals
Methodological individualism
Methodological individualism is the theory that social phenomena can only be accurately explained by showing how they result from the intentional states that motivate the individual actors. The idea has been used to criticize historicism, structural functionalism, and the roles of social class,...
; being described by professor Harald Beyer
Harald Beyer
Carl Harald Beyer was a Norwegian literary historian and lecturer, literary critic, textbook writer and professor of European literature at the University of Bergen.-Early and personal life:...
as "an independent individualist".
Nonetheless, he was also involved in more bourgeois endeavors, being a consultant for the theatre Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatre in Norway.-History:...
from 1928 to 1933. He also contributed to the biographical dictionary Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
, and supported Riksmål as a written form of the Norwegian language. Parallel to his writing career, he worked for the Bank of Norway, being an accountant in its Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
branch from 1901 until his retirement in 1929. He was honored with a Festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
on his ninetieth birthday. He died in March 1953 in Bergen. He was a grandfather of Finn Ludt and Bjørn Paulson
Bjørn Paulson
Bjørn Andreas Paulson was a Norwegian high jumper and jurist.He was a grandson of Andreas Paulson. He was born in Bergen, but represented the club IL Skjalg. At the 1948 Summer Olympics held in London he finished second in the high jump final with a jump of 1.95 metres. He became Norwegian...
.