Oslo byleksikon
Encyclopedia
Oslo byleksikon is an encyclopaedia on Oslo
, Norway
's capital city. It has been published in five editions since 1938. The third, fourth and the fifth editions were published in cooperation between the heritage association Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel
and the publishing house Kunnskapsforlaget
. The latest edition was published in 2010, and comprised approximately 6,100 entries.
Aksel Arstal (1855–1940), who was more than 80 years old at the time of publication. In the edition's preface, Arstal states that "the book should contain everything what an Oslo citizen ought to know about the city and the region he frequently visits". Arstal also stated that he wanted the entries in the encyclopedia to be "short, accurate and factual" and without "passion".
The edition strictly followed the new ortographic reform of 1938, which was very radical for its time. In a review of the encyclopaedia for St. Hallvard
, architect and antiquarian Arno Berg devoted three pages to finding errors, stating that "finding errors could be a funny sport". He nonetheless praised Arstal for his work with the encyclopaedia, maintaining that it was a "good, funny, and above all a useful book".
and Oslo were merged, which ment an expansion of the city's area from 17 square kilometres (6.6 sq mi) to 453 square kilometres (174.9 sq mi). Journalist and author Carl Just
(1897–1990) thought that the new, expanded city needed a new encyclopaedia, and started working on the second edition, which eventually was published in 1966. This edition was less systematic than the first edition, introducing much trivia about Oslo that Just was familiar with.
In the encyclopaedia, Just enlarged the entries on Oslo's streets by adding descriptions on houses and their architects. The art historian and urban planner Bjørn Sverre Pedersen (1926–2003) assisted Just with the entries on architecture, though he was not credited in the edition's preface. Just added a new feature in the second edition: A large entry on Oslo in the beginning of the book, containing information on urban planning, nature, geology, plant and animal life, history and politics. The second edition had few illustrations; even fewer than in the first.
and the publishing house Kunnskapsforlaget
in the autumn of 1987. It was edited by Reidar Hanssen (1929–1996), and comprised almost 5,000 entries on 650 pages. The entries were written by more than 50 different people. This edition introduced tables containing information on the city's mayors, award winners, theatre directors, monuments and memorials. It also introduced a systematic index of the contents of the book to aid the reader. The edition became an economical success; a total of 13,000 copies of the encyclopaedia were sold.
(1952–). It was expanded with approximately 50 per cent, and featured 5,600 entries. The new content comprised entries on the new administrative boroughs, the Oslo forest
, organisations, newspapers, minor sports clubs and political parties. One new feature with the fourth edition was a map in the rear end of the book. This edition also became an economical success, with 15,000 copies being printed.
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...
, Norway
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...
's capital city. It has been published in five editions since 1938. The third, fourth and the fifth editions were published in cooperation between the heritage association Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel
Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel
Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel , often known as Oslo Byes Vel, is a non-profit heritage association for the benefit of Oslo, Norway's capital city. It was established in 1811 by Niels Wulfsberg.-History:...
and the publishing house Kunnskapsforlaget
Kunnskapsforlaget
Kunnskapsforlaget is a Norwegian publishing company based in Oslo that concentrates on encyclopedias, encyclopedic books, textbooks, and dictonaries. The company, created in 1975, is owned by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag and Aschehoug ....
. The latest edition was published in 2010, and comprised approximately 6,100 entries.
First edition (1938)
The first edition of Oslo byleksikon was published by the Tanum publishing house. It was written and edited by the geographerGeographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
Aksel Arstal (1855–1940), who was more than 80 years old at the time of publication. In the edition's preface, Arstal states that "the book should contain everything what an Oslo citizen ought to know about the city and the region he frequently visits". Arstal also stated that he wanted the entries in the encyclopedia to be "short, accurate and factual" and without "passion".
The edition strictly followed the new ortographic reform of 1938, which was very radical for its time. In a review of the encyclopaedia for St. Hallvard
St. Hallvard (periodical)
St. Hallvard is a quarterly Norwegian language periodical issued by Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel. It was established in 1915, with Edvard Bull and Anton Wilhelm Brøgger as editor in chiefs. The current editor is Jan Sigurd Østberg. The name is derived from the saint Hallvard Vebjørnsson....
, architect and antiquarian Arno Berg devoted three pages to finding errors, stating that "finding errors could be a funny sport". He nonetheless praised Arstal for his work with the encyclopaedia, maintaining that it was a "good, funny, and above all a useful book".
Second edition (1966)
In 1948, the municipalities AkerAker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
and Oslo were merged, which ment an expansion of the city's area from 17 square kilometres (6.6 sq mi) to 453 square kilometres (174.9 sq mi). Journalist and author Carl Just
Carl Just
-Early and personal life:He was born in Kristiania to the wholesaler Carl Johan Beckman and his wife Selma Augusta Just . Just grew up in Kristiania with foster parents. He never met his father, but met his mother once in his adult life...
(1897–1990) thought that the new, expanded city needed a new encyclopaedia, and started working on the second edition, which eventually was published in 1966. This edition was less systematic than the first edition, introducing much trivia about Oslo that Just was familiar with.
In the encyclopaedia, Just enlarged the entries on Oslo's streets by adding descriptions on houses and their architects. The art historian and urban planner Bjørn Sverre Pedersen (1926–2003) assisted Just with the entries on architecture, though he was not credited in the edition's preface. Just added a new feature in the second edition: A large entry on Oslo in the beginning of the book, containing information on urban planning, nature, geology, plant and animal life, history and politics. The second edition had few illustrations; even fewer than in the first.
Third edition (1987)
The third edition was published in cooperation between the heritage association Selskabet for Oslo Byes VelSelskabet for Oslo Byes Vel
Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel , often known as Oslo Byes Vel, is a non-profit heritage association for the benefit of Oslo, Norway's capital city. It was established in 1811 by Niels Wulfsberg.-History:...
and the publishing house Kunnskapsforlaget
Kunnskapsforlaget
Kunnskapsforlaget is a Norwegian publishing company based in Oslo that concentrates on encyclopedias, encyclopedic books, textbooks, and dictonaries. The company, created in 1975, is owned by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag and Aschehoug ....
in the autumn of 1987. It was edited by Reidar Hanssen (1929–1996), and comprised almost 5,000 entries on 650 pages. The entries were written by more than 50 different people. This edition introduced tables containing information on the city's mayors, award winners, theatre directors, monuments and memorials. It also introduced a systematic index of the contents of the book to aid the reader. The edition became an economical success; a total of 13,000 copies of the encyclopaedia were sold.
Fourth edition (2000)
The fourth edition was edited by Knut Are TvedtKnut Are Tvedt
Knut Are Tvedt is a Norwegian encyclopedist.He is the editor of the Norwegian language-encyclopedias Store norske leksikon and Oslo byleksikon. His main interests are the history and politics of Oslo. He also has a quiz-column in the daily newspaper Aftenposten Aften.-References:...
(1952–). It was expanded with approximately 50 per cent, and featured 5,600 entries. The new content comprised entries on the new administrative boroughs, the Oslo forest
Marka, Oslo
Marka is the name of the forested and hilly areas surrounding Oslo, Norway. It includes areas within the municipality of Oslo, but also large areas in Hole, Ringerike, Jevnaker, Lunner, Nittedal, Bærum, Asker, and other municipalities in Oppland and Akershus counties.The name is actually just the...
, organisations, newspapers, minor sports clubs and political parties. One new feature with the fourth edition was a map in the rear end of the book. This edition also became an economical success, with 15,000 copies being printed.