Harald Grieg
Encyclopedia
Harald Grieg was a Norwegian publisher
.
He was a relative of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg
. Harald's brother Nordahl Grieg was a writer and an active member of the Free Norwegian Forces
during the German occupation of Norway. However, Harald's own relationship with the resistance was rather more ambivalent, rendering publishing services to the Germans
.
Grieg had been director of the publishing house Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
since 1925. Starting in 1940, the Nazi occupation authorities used Gylendal to publish its propaganda material. Noted novelist Knut Hamsun
(a friend of Grieg's) was heavily involved in the propaganda project.
Grieg was also chairman of the board of Nationaltheatret
. In June 1941 the board rejected subordination under the so-called Ministry of Culture and Enlightenment
. This provoked the authorities, and Grieg, board member Francis Bull
and theatre director Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
were arrested. Grieg was incarcerated at Grini concentration camp, but was later released. Knut Hamsun's son Tore Hamsun was installed as acting director of Gyldendal publishing house.
After the war's end, in 1945, Harald Grieg returned to his old post and remained director until 1970.
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
.
He was a relative of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
. Harald's brother Nordahl Grieg was a writer and an active member of the Free Norwegian Forces
Free Norwegian Forces
The Norwegian Armed Forces in exile were remnants of the armed forces of Norway that continued to fight the Axis powers from Allied countries, such as Britain and Canada, after they had escaped the German occupation of Norway during World War II.-Background:...
during the German occupation of Norway. However, Harald's own relationship with the resistance was rather more ambivalent, rendering publishing services to the Germans
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
.
Grieg had been director of the publishing house Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, commonly referred to as Gyldendal, is one of the largest Norwegian publishing houses .-Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS:Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS was founded in 1925...
since 1925. Starting in 1940, the Nazi occupation authorities used Gylendal to publish its propaganda material. Noted novelist Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
(a friend of Grieg's) was heavily involved in the propaganda project.
Grieg was also chairman of the board of Nationaltheatret
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
. In June 1941 the board rejected subordination under the so-called Ministry of Culture and Enlightenment
Ministry of Culture and Enlightenment (Norway)
The Ministry of Culture and Enlightenment was a government ministry during the German occupation of Norway, established on 25 September 1940, and closed down at the end of World War II....
. This provoked the authorities, and Grieg, board member Francis Bull
Francis Bull
Francis Bull was a Norwegian literary historian, professor at the University of Oslo for more than thirty years, essayist and speaker, and magazine editor.-Early and personal life:...
and theatre director Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Mathias Sejersted Bødtker CBE was a Norwegian banker, art collector and patron of the arts.-Early and personal life:...
were arrested. Grieg was incarcerated at Grini concentration camp, but was later released. Knut Hamsun's son Tore Hamsun was installed as acting director of Gyldendal publishing house.
After the war's end, in 1945, Harald Grieg returned to his old post and remained director until 1970.