Lars Berg
Encyclopedia
Lars Kornelius Edvard Berg (16 May 1901 – 11 January 1969) was a Norwegian teacher, novelist, short story
writer and playwright
.
He was born at Kvaløya
as the son of fisherman and farmer Emil Larsen Berg and Olufine Johansen, and grew up at a small farm. From 1947 he was married to Aud Norvåg. He died at Kvaløya in January 1969.
He graduated from the teacher's college in Tromsø
in 1922, and worked as a teacher in Bø i Vesterålen from 1922 to 1923, Ørsta
from 1923 to 1924 and Hillesøy
from 1924 to 1934. He later worked as a headmaster in Tromsøysund
from 1940 to 1967. He made his literary debut in 1934 with the novel Men det var det ingen som visste, and followed up with Du er den første kvinne in 1935. Berg was influenced by ideas from Freud's
psychoanalysis
. His candid treatment of sexuality-related problems in the first two novels led to strong reactions and initiated a spirited cultural debate in the late 1930s. His next two novels were Du skal svare (1936) and Fire søsken går ut (1937). In the late 1930s he also published a number of short stories in the periodical Arbeidermagasinet
.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Berg was a member of the resistance movement
in Troms. He was arrested in 1942 and incarcerated at the Grini concentration camp. Among his post war novels are Kvinna og havet from 1950, Vi må ro i natt from 1951, and Den lange vegen from 1967. He was an advocate for theatre in Northern Norway for many years, and is given credit for the establishing of Hålogaland Teater
(after his death). His first play was Maria, about a rehabilitation center for young girls off the straight path. The play was staged at Det Norske Teatret
in April 1959, directed by Dagmar Myhrvold, with Elisabeth Bang
as "Maria", the headmistress, and Liv Thorsen
as the young girl "Tora". The play was also adapted into an audio play for Radioteatret
. His play Petter Dass was later performed at Hålogaland Teater
. Berg was awarded Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
in 1968 (shared with Kjell Heggelund
).
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
writer and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
He was born at Kvaløya
Kvaløya
- External links :****...
as the son of fisherman and farmer Emil Larsen Berg and Olufine Johansen, and grew up at a small farm. From 1947 he was married to Aud Norvåg. He died at Kvaløya in January 1969.
He graduated from the teacher's college in Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
in 1922, and worked as a teacher in Bø i Vesterålen from 1922 to 1923, Ørsta
Ørsta
is a village and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region of Western Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ørsta...
from 1923 to 1924 and Hillesøy
Hillesøy
Hillesøy is a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the present-day municipalities of Tromsø and Lenvik and both sides of the Malangen fjord...
from 1924 to 1934. He later worked as a headmaster in Tromsøysund
Tromsøysund
Tromsøysund is a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the southern and eastern parts of the present-day municipality of Tromsø, including the villages of Tromsdalen and Movik.-History:...
from 1940 to 1967. He made his literary debut in 1934 with the novel Men det var det ingen som visste, and followed up with Du er den første kvinne in 1935. Berg was influenced by ideas from Freud's
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
. His candid treatment of sexuality-related problems in the first two novels led to strong reactions and initiated a spirited cultural debate in the late 1930s. His next two novels were Du skal svare (1936) and Fire søsken går ut (1937). In the late 1930s he also published a number of short stories in the periodical Arbeidermagasinet
Arbeidermagasinet
Arbeidermagasinet was a Norwegian weekly magazine established in 1927. It changed its name to Magasinet For Alle in 1953, and ceased publication in 1970. The magazine is especially noted for its literary quality and its promotion of the short story.-Editors:Arbeidermagasinet's first editor from...
.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
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...
Berg was a member of the resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
in Troms. He was arrested in 1942 and incarcerated at the Grini concentration camp. Among his post war novels are Kvinna og havet from 1950, Vi må ro i natt from 1951, and Den lange vegen from 1967. He was an advocate for theatre in Northern Norway for many years, and is given credit for the establishing of Hålogaland Teater
Hålogaland Teater
Hålogaland Teater is a regional theatre serving the region of Nord-Norge, the northernmost of Norway. When established in 1971, it was the first regional theatre in Norway, and the first professional theatre in Nord-Norge. Many of its productions are staged in the regional Norwegian dialects...
(after his death). His first play was Maria, about a rehabilitation center for young girls off the straight path. The play was staged at Det Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret
Det Norske Teatret is a theatre in Oslo. The theatre was founded in 1912, after an initiative from Hulda Garborg and Edvard Drabløs. It opened in 1913, touring with two plays, Ervingen by Ivar Aasen and Rationelt Fjøsstell by Hulda Garborg...
in April 1959, directed by Dagmar Myhrvold, with Elisabeth Bang
Elisabeth Bang
Elisabeth Bang was a Norwegian actress.She was born in Skedsmo. She made her stage debut for Bærum Studiescene during World War II, and met her future husband Pål Skjønberg here. They married in 1946, and as such Bang became a daughter-in-law of Henny Skjønberg and sister-in-law of Espen Skjønberg...
as "Maria", the headmistress, and Liv Thorsen
Liv Thorsen
Liv Thorsen is a Norwegian actress. She's best known for her role as Elna in the Norwegian situation comedy Mot i brøstet.-Select filmography:*1999 - Tusenårsfesten*1999 - Karl & Co...
as the young girl "Tora". The play was also adapted into an audio play for Radioteatret
Radioteatret
Radioteatret is a department of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation which produces audio plays for radio broadcasting. It was established in 1927.-Directors:...
. His play Petter Dass was later performed at Hålogaland Teater
Hålogaland Teater
Hålogaland Teater is a regional theatre serving the region of Nord-Norge, the northernmost of Norway. When established in 1971, it was the first regional theatre in Norway, and the first professional theatre in Nord-Norge. Many of its productions are staged in the regional Norwegian dialects...
. Berg was awarded Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
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...
in 1968 (shared with Kjell Heggelund
Kjell Heggelund
Kjell Heggelund is a Norwegian literary researcher, lecturer, editor, manager, lyricist, translator and literary critic.-Personal life:...
).