Ernst G. Mortensen
Encyclopedia
Ernst Gustav Mortensen was a Norwegian
publisher. Born in Kristiania
(now Oslo), he established Norway's first correspondence school and his own publishing house. He started new paths in Norwegian publishing business, and published Leo Tolstoy
's collected works in twelve volumes. Mortensen also founded new magazines and periodicals, some of which were censored by German occupants
during the Second World War.
(1922–1983).
, and, in the following year, for the youth magazine Ekko. After having spent half a year in the United States
, Mortensen established Mortensen Norsk Korrespondanseskole (NKS), Norway's first correspondence school. In the first year, NKS had 125 pupils; 15 years later it had 9,000 and during the Second World War it had more than 50,000. In 1928, Mortensen established the publishing house Nasjonalforlaget, where he was director until 1934. He also established the publisher Ernst G. Mortensens forlag and a few magazines which sold well. All of his enterprises were merged into Ernst G. Mortensen & Co A/S in 1958.
His publishing house Nasjonalforlaget published inexpensive book series; a novel could cost only with leathered cover. It published many foreign-language book series that had not been translated into Norwegian before, amongst them Tolstoy's collected works in twelve volumes. Apart from novel series, Nasjonalforlaget also published boys' novels, crime literature, classics and encyclopaedias. In 1933, Mortensen started Norsk Ukeblad
, but had to sell it along with Nasjonalforlaget one year later. He also had to promise to not start a new publishing house within the next seven years. Magnus Andresen, who acquired Norsk Ukeblad, experienced economic loss with the acquisition, and sold it back half a year later.
In 1938, Mortensen founded the Damebladet ("Women's Magazine"). It and Norsk Ukeblad sold well, with Norsk Ukeblad being the largest magazine in the country with its 100,000 sold issues in 1940. However, the German occupants in Norway during the Second World War censored it in 1943. After the war, Ernst G. Mortensens Forlag became Norway's leading magazine publisher, with Vi Menn
(started in 1951) and Det Nye
(started in 1957) as its frontline magazines. In 1958, Carl L. Mortensen became managing director of the publishing house, whilst Ernst G. Mortensen continued as chairman until 1965. Mortensen was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1939. He died in October 1966 in Oslo, at age 79.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
publisher. Born in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(now Oslo), he established Norway's first correspondence school and his own publishing house. He started new paths in Norwegian publishing business, and published Leo Tolstoy
Leo Tolstoy
Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
's collected works in twelve volumes. Mortensen also founded new magazines and periodicals, some of which were censored by German occupants
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
during the Second World War.
Early and personal life
His father was gardener Carl Gustav Mortensen (1850–1899) and his mother Anna Kristine Solberg (1855–1930). He grew up in Kristiania and took secondary school exam in 1903 and final exam at Treider College in 1905. He married Anne Marie Damnæs (1886–1960) at an unknown point, with whom he had the son Finn MortensenFinn Mortensen
Finn Mortensen was a Norwegiancomposer, critic and educator. Finn Einar Mortensen was born in Oslo. His parents were publisher Ernst Gustav Mortensen and Anna Marie Damnæs . Mortensen grew up in a publishing environment and it was at first expected that he would go into his father's...
(1922–1983).
Career
In 1906, he started working at ØrebladetØrebladet
Ørebladet is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued from 1891 to 1924. Ørebladet became defunct in 1924, when it was incorporated in the newspaper Tidens Tegn....
, and, in the following year, for the youth magazine Ekko. After having spent half a year in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Mortensen established Mortensen Norsk Korrespondanseskole (NKS), Norway's first correspondence school. In the first year, NKS had 125 pupils; 15 years later it had 9,000 and during the Second World War it had more than 50,000. In 1928, Mortensen established the publishing house Nasjonalforlaget, where he was director until 1934. He also established the publisher Ernst G. Mortensens forlag and a few magazines which sold well. All of his enterprises were merged into Ernst G. Mortensen & Co A/S in 1958.
His publishing house Nasjonalforlaget published inexpensive book series; a novel could cost only with leathered cover. It published many foreign-language book series that had not been translated into Norwegian before, amongst them Tolstoy's collected works in twelve volumes. Apart from novel series, Nasjonalforlaget also published boys' novels, crime literature, classics and encyclopaedias. In 1933, Mortensen started Norsk Ukeblad
Norsk Ukeblad
Norsk Ukeblad is a Norwegian weekly magazine. Its target group is socially conservative women 25 years and older. The magazine contains features, as well as articles on food, interior decoration, health, fashion, and beauty. Its circulation was 259,400 in 2004. The editor is Maj-Lis Stordal. It is...
, but had to sell it along with Nasjonalforlaget one year later. He also had to promise to not start a new publishing house within the next seven years. Magnus Andresen, who acquired Norsk Ukeblad, experienced economic loss with the acquisition, and sold it back half a year later.
In 1938, Mortensen founded the Damebladet ("Women's Magazine"). It and Norsk Ukeblad sold well, with Norsk Ukeblad being the largest magazine in the country with its 100,000 sold issues in 1940. However, the German occupants in Norway during the Second World War censored it in 1943. After the war, Ernst G. Mortensens Forlag became Norway's leading magazine publisher, with Vi Menn
Vi Menn
Vi Menn, is Scandinavia and Norway's largest weekly lifestyle magazine for men, with a circulation of 96,000 and 593,000 weekly readers , with articles on a wide range of topics, including: adventure, travel, hunting, sports, cars and women. It is owned by the Hjemmet Mortensen AS publishing house...
(started in 1951) and Det Nye
Det Nye
Det Nye is a Norwegian magazine that comes out every three weeks. The target group is women from 18 to 35 years. It contains feature articles, as well as material on careers, fashion, sex and relationships. Its circulation was 68,765 in 2004. The editor is Elisabet Skårberg. It is owned by Hjemmet...
(started in 1957) as its frontline magazines. In 1958, Carl L. Mortensen became managing director of the publishing house, whilst Ernst G. Mortensen continued as chairman until 1965. Mortensen was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1939. He died in October 1966 in Oslo, at age 79.