Per Sivle
Encyclopedia
Per Sivle was a Norwegian poet, novelist and newspaper editor. He is known for his novel Streik from 1891, and for his collections of stories issued between 1887 and 1895, Sogor (includes the story "Berre ein Hund"), Vossa-Stubba, Nye Vossa-stubbar and Sivle-Stubbar. Among his poetry collections is Bersøglis- og andre Viser
from 1895.
as the son of farmer and horse dealer Eirik Hansson Sivle and Susanna Andersdotter Ryum. His parents were not married, and his mother died in 1859, when he was only two years old. During his childhood he frequently moved from place to place, growing up along with different relatives. He attended a folk high school
in Sogndal
when he was 15 years old. In 1875 he moved to Christiania
for studies, planning to become a priest. Because of illness these plans were abandoned and he aborted his studies. He then started a literary career. He made his literary debut in 1878 with the book En digters drøm, published under the pen name Simon de Vita. He was editor for the newspaper Buskeruds Amtstidende from 1883 to 1885. In 1885 he attended Askov Højskole in Denmark. Here he met his future wife, and he married Wenche von der Lippe Nilsen in 1887. From 1887 to 1891 he edited the newspaper Kristianiaposten. His literary breakthrough was the collection of five stories Sogor from 1887. This book also included the story "Berre ein hund", which had been published in the literary and cultural magazine Nyt Tidsskrift
in 1885. The story "Berre en hund" was later adapted into a film. In 1887 he also published Vossa-Stubba, a collection of stories written in dialect. His novel Streik from 1891, based on a conflict in Drammen
in 1881, is one of the first workers' novels in Norwegian literature
. In 1894 he published the poetry collection Noreg, and also the story collection Nye Vossa-Stubbar. His poem "Vi vil os et Land
" from 1894, included in the poetry collection Bersøglis- og andre Viser
from 1895, became a popular song with a melody composed by Christian Sinding
. Literary historian Kristian Elster
characterized Bersøglis- og andre Viser as Sivle's most outstanding poetry collection. His story collection Sivle-Stubbar was published in 1895, the poetry collections Skaldemaal in 1896 and En Fyrstikke og andre Viser in 1898, and the stories Folk og Fæ in 1898. His last poetry collection was Olavs-Kvæde from 1901. Two of his songs that have found their way into songbooks are "Lerka" (from Skaldemaal) and "Den fyrste song".
Sivle suffered from various personal problems during his life, including nerve troubles, alcohol abuse and financial straits. He shot himself in Oslo in 1904. Commemorative monuments to Sivle exist in Flåm, Stalheim
, two in Vossevangen
, one in Strømsgodset
and one in Elverum
.
Bersøglis- og andre Viser
Bersøglis- og andre Viser is a poetry collection published by Norwegian poet Per Sivle in 1895. Among its poems are "Vaar-Von", "Vi vil os et Land -" and "Haust". Literary historian Kristian Elster characterized Bersøglis- og andre Viser as Sivle's most outstanding poetry collection....
from 1895.
Life and career
Per Eriksen Sivle was born in FlåmFlåm
Flåm is a village at the inner end of the Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the Sognefjord. The village is located in the municipality of Aurland in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway...
as the son of farmer and horse dealer Eirik Hansson Sivle and Susanna Andersdotter Ryum. His parents were not married, and his mother died in 1859, when he was only two years old. During his childhood he frequently moved from place to place, growing up along with different relatives. He attended a folk high school
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
in Sogndal
Sogndal
Sogndal is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The village of Sogndalsfjøra is the administrative center of Sogndal municipality. Other main villages include Kaupanger, Kjørnes, and Fjærland...
when he was 15 years old. In 1875 he moved to Christiania
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...
for studies, planning to become a priest. Because of illness these plans were abandoned and he aborted his studies. He then started a literary career. He made his literary debut in 1878 with the book En digters drøm, published under the pen name Simon de Vita. He was editor for the newspaper Buskeruds Amtstidende from 1883 to 1885. In 1885 he attended Askov Højskole in Denmark. Here he met his future wife, and he married Wenche von der Lippe Nilsen in 1887. From 1887 to 1891 he edited the newspaper Kristianiaposten. His literary breakthrough was the collection of five stories Sogor from 1887. This book also included the story "Berre ein hund", which had been published in the literary and cultural magazine Nyt Tidsskrift
Nyt Tidsskrift
Nyt Tidsskrift is a former Norwegian literary, cultural and political magazine issued from 1882 to 1887, and with a second series from 1892 to 1895. The magazine had contributions from severeal of the leading intellectuals of the time, including later Nobel Literature Prize laureate Bjørnstjerne...
in 1885. The story "Berre en hund" was later adapted into a film. In 1887 he also published Vossa-Stubba, a collection of stories written in dialect. His novel Streik from 1891, based on a conflict in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
in 1881, is one of the first workers' novels in Norwegian literature
Norwegian literature
Norwegian literature is literature composed in Norway or by Norwegian people. The history of Norwegian literature starts with the pagan Eddaic poems and skaldic verse of the 9th and 10th centuries with poets such as Bragi Boddason and Eyvindr Skáldaspillir...
. In 1894 he published the poetry collection Noreg, and also the story collection Nye Vossa-Stubbar. His poem "Vi vil os et Land
Vi vil oss et land
"Vi vil oss et land" is a famous phrase in the context of Norwegian nationalism, derived from a poem by Per Sivle...
" from 1894, included in the poetry collection Bersøglis- og andre Viser
Bersøglis- og andre Viser
Bersøglis- og andre Viser is a poetry collection published by Norwegian poet Per Sivle in 1895. Among its poems are "Vaar-Von", "Vi vil os et Land -" and "Haust". Literary historian Kristian Elster characterized Bersøglis- og andre Viser as Sivle's most outstanding poetry collection....
from 1895, became a popular song with a melody composed by Christian Sinding
Christian Sinding
Christian August Sinding was a Norwegian composer.-Personal life:He was born in Kongsberg as a son of mine superindendent Matthias Wilhelm Sinding and Cecilie Marie Mejdell . He was a brother of the painter Otto Sinding and the sculptor Stephan Sinding...
. Literary historian Kristian Elster
Kristian Elster (born 1881)
Kristian Elster was a Norwegian novelist, literary historian, theatre critic and biographer, the son of Kristian Elster d.e.. He made his literary début in 1907 with the story collection Fortællinger. His liteary breakthrough was the novel trilogy I lære, Landeveien and Mester, published from 1911...
characterized Bersøglis- og andre Viser as Sivle's most outstanding poetry collection. His story collection Sivle-Stubbar was published in 1895, the poetry collections Skaldemaal in 1896 and En Fyrstikke og andre Viser in 1898, and the stories Folk og Fæ in 1898. His last poetry collection was Olavs-Kvæde from 1901. Two of his songs that have found their way into songbooks are "Lerka" (from Skaldemaal) and "Den fyrste song".
Sivle suffered from various personal problems during his life, including nerve troubles, alcohol abuse and financial straits. He shot himself in Oslo in 1904. Commemorative monuments to Sivle exist in Flåm, Stalheim
Stalheim
Stalheim is a village in the municipality Voss in the county Hordaland, Norway. The view from Stalheim is known from several paintings, in particular Johan Christian Dahl's painting Fra Stalheim from 1842....
, two in Vossevangen
Vossevangen
Vossevangen is the centre of Voss municipality in Hordaland, Norway. The population is about 5500. It's located in the center of Voss at the north-east edge of Vangsvatnet....
, one in Strømsgodset
Strømsgodset
Strømsgodset is a former municipality in Vestfold county , Norway, today a part of the city of Drammen.-History:Strømsgodset was originally a small rural annex to the city parish of Bragernes...
and one in Elverum
Elverum
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Elverum...
.