Harald Sverdrup (writer)
Encyclopedia
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian poet and children's writer. He received several literary prizes, including the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature, the Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
, the Dobloug Prize
and the Riksmål Society Literature Prize
.
, Lofoten
, as a son of medical doctor Harald Ulrik Sverdrup (1890–1976) and Berit Johanne Strandenæs (1896–1961). He was related to bishop and politician Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup, who was his great-uncle, and to oceanographer
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup
, who was his first cousin once removed. Other first cousins once removed are Leif Sverdrup, Georg Johan Sverdrup and philologist Jakob Sverdrup
. He was also a great-grandson of Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Sr
, a grandnephew of Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup, Georg Sverdrup and Edvard Sverdrup
and a second cousin of historian Jakob Sverdrup
.
He spent his early childhood in Lofoten
, Risør
, Hvitsten
and Rjukan
, and later in Oslo
. During the World War II
he participated in resistance work in Norway, until he fled to Sweden and Great Britain in 1944. He joined as staff at the Norwegian Spitfire Wing, and participated at the war front in Belgium, Holland and Germany.
He was married to Jorunn Elset from 1950 to 1954, and to his first cousin Mari Ulstrup from 1954. The couple lived at Kalbakken and Stokke
.
in 1959. During the 1960s he issued the poetry collections Isbjørnfantasi (1961), Sang til solen (1964) and Farlig vind (1969), and the prose books Negeren og solsikken (1965) and Paradisets barn (1968). In the 1970s he issued the poetry collections Fredløse ord (1971) and Grønn kalender (1974). He received the Dobloug Prize
in 1978, and the Riksmål Society Literature Prize
in 1985.
Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment is an annually awarded literary prize from the publishing house Aschehoug. The prize is a recognition of superior literary work. The publisher's editorial management makes the award based on their collective judgement of merit. Applications are not accepted.The...
, the Dobloug Prize
Dobloug Prize
The Dobloug Prize is a literature prize awarded for Swedish and Norwegian fiction. The prize is named after Norwegian businessman and philanthropist Birger Dobloug pursuant to his bequest. The prize sum is . The Dobloug Prize is awarded annually by the Swedish Academy.-Prize winners:...
and the Riksmål Society Literature Prize
Riksmål Society Literature Prize
The Riksmål Society Literature Prize is awarded annually by the Riksmålsforbundet for the outstanding publication in riksmål...
.
Early and personal life
Sverdrup was born in Gravdal, BuksnesBuksnes
Buksnes is a populated area in Vestvågøy municipality, Nordland county, Norway.-History:Buksnes was created as Buksnes formannskapsdistrikt in 1837. On July 1, 1919 the district of Hol with 2,272 inhabitants was separated from Buksnes to create a municipality of its own. The split left Buksnes...
, Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
, as a son of medical doctor Harald Ulrik Sverdrup (1890–1976) and Berit Johanne Strandenæs (1896–1961). He was related to bishop and politician Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup, who was his great-uncle, and to oceanographer
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup
Harald Sverdrup
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian oceanographer and meteorologist who made a number of important theoretical discoveries in these fields. Having first worked in Bergen and Leipzig he was the scientific director of the North Polar expedition of Roald Amundsen aboard the Maud from 1918 to 1925...
, who was his first cousin once removed. Other first cousins once removed are Leif Sverdrup, Georg Johan Sverdrup and philologist Jakob Sverdrup
Jakob Sverdrup (philologist)
-Personal life:He was born in Leikanger as a son of the bishop and politician Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup . He was a brother of Georg Johan Sverdrup, uncle of historian Jakob Sverdrup, a first cousin of Harald Ulrik Sverdrup and Leif Sverdrup, a nephew of Georg Sverdrup and Edvard Sverdrup, grandson...
. He was also a great-grandson of Harald Ulrik Sverdrup, Sr
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup (politician)
Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a Norwegian priest and politician.He was born at Jarlsberg Manor in Vestfold. His brother Johan Sverdrup would found the Liberal Party and become Prime Minister of Norway in 1884....
, a grandnephew of Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup, Georg Sverdrup and Edvard Sverdrup
Edvard Sverdrup
Johan Edvard Sverdrup was a Norwegian educator, author and church leader. Edvard Sverdrup was one of the key theologian in the Church of Norway in the first few decades of the 1900s.-Biography:...
and a second cousin of historian Jakob Sverdrup
Jakob Sverdrup (historian)
-Personal life:He was born in Bergen as a son of the professor of religious studies Georg Johan Sverdrup . He was a nephew of philologist Jakob Sverdrup, a first cousin once removed of Harald Ulrik Sverdrup and Leif Sverdrup, a grandson of Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup, a great-grandson of Harald Ulrik...
.
He spent his early childhood in Lofoten
Lofoten
Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, the archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.-Etymology:...
, Risør
Risør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
, Hvitsten
Hvitsten
Hvitsten is a former town in Akershus county, Norway, located between Drøbak and Son.It is the smallest town that has ever existed in Norway: In 1951 it had 76 inhabitants, and an area of just 0.07 km². Because of its size it could not be established as a municipality of its own, and it had to...
and Rjukan
Rjukan
Rjukan is a town and the administrative center of Tinn municipality in Telemark . It is situated in Vestfjorddalen, between Møsvatn and Tinnsjå, and got its name after Rjukanfossen west of the town. The Tinn municipality council granted township status for Rjukan in 1996. The town has 3 386...
, and later in Oslo
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...
. During the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he participated in resistance work in Norway, until he fled to Sweden and Great Britain in 1944. He joined as staff at the Norwegian Spitfire Wing, and participated at the war front in Belgium, Holland and Germany.
He was married to Jorunn Elset from 1950 to 1954, and to his first cousin Mari Ulstrup from 1954. The couple lived at Kalbakken and Stokke
Stokke
Stokke is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Stokke.-Background:The municipality of Stokke was established on 1 January 1838...
.
Literary career
Sverdrup made his literary debut in 1948 with the poetry collection Drøm og drift. His literary breakthrough came with the collection Sankt Elms ild from 1958, which earned him the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature. He issued the collection of children's poetry Snurrebassen og andre tøysevers in 1958. He received the Mads Wiel Nygaards EndowmentMads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment is an annually awarded literary prize from the publishing house Aschehoug. The prize is a recognition of superior literary work. The publisher's editorial management makes the award based on their collective judgement of merit. Applications are not accepted.The...
in 1959. During the 1960s he issued the poetry collections Isbjørnfantasi (1961), Sang til solen (1964) and Farlig vind (1969), and the prose books Negeren og solsikken (1965) and Paradisets barn (1968). In the 1970s he issued the poetry collections Fredløse ord (1971) and Grønn kalender (1974). He received the Dobloug Prize
Dobloug Prize
The Dobloug Prize is a literature prize awarded for Swedish and Norwegian fiction. The prize is named after Norwegian businessman and philanthropist Birger Dobloug pursuant to his bequest. The prize sum is . The Dobloug Prize is awarded annually by the Swedish Academy.-Prize winners:...
in 1978, and the Riksmål Society Literature Prize
Riksmål Society Literature Prize
The Riksmål Society Literature Prize is awarded annually by the Riksmålsforbundet for the outstanding publication in riksmål...
in 1985.