Skoggangsmand
Encyclopedia
Skoggangsmand is a novel from 1917, the debut novel
of Norwegian
writer Mikkjel Fønhus
.
The legend about the Hedal Church
is embedded in the story. During the Black Death
, in the middle of the 14th century, the valley Hedal was depopulated, and the valley became a wilderness. A hunter, an outlaw living and hiding in the forest, one day shot an arrow after a capercaillie
, but missed and instead struck the church bell, after which the hunter discovered the old church. Entering the church, there was bear at the altar, and the hunter shot and skinned the bear. The hunter subsequently settled at a deserted farm south of the church. The gathering Hedalsmessa, held at Michaelmas
, is a central event in the novel.
. Jensen pointed at the similarities between Fønhus' picturing of the wilderness, and the international genre of wilderness writing.
, and the subsequent novels Det skriker fra Kverrvilljuvet
and Troll-Elgen
.
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
of Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
writer Mikkjel Fønhus
Mikkjel Fønhus
Mikkjel Fønhus was a Norwegian journalist, novelist and short story writer. Fønhus' stories are often set in the wilderness, featuring animals and animal behavior.-Personal life:...
.
Plot
The story is set in rural Norway. The main character is a wild tempered young boy "Hans Trefothaugen", who gets involved in fights and a stabbing, and ends up as an outlaw living in the forests. While enjoying the independent way of life in the wilderness, he is also desperately longing for the woman "Ingrid Ødden", whom he knew from their childhood, and who later has married. After various conflicts with the village people Hans eventually ends up being caught and brought to prison.Hedal stave church
Hedal Stave Church is a stave church located in Hedal in Sør-Aurdal, Norway.-History:The first reference to the church is in 1327. The original church was a much smaller single nave church built second half of 12th century. The west entrance remains from the original church...
is embedded in the story. During the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
, in the middle of the 14th century, the valley Hedal was depopulated, and the valley became a wilderness. A hunter, an outlaw living and hiding in the forest, one day shot an arrow after a capercaillie
Capercaillie
The Western Capercaillie , also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie , is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg....
, but missed and instead struck the church bell, after which the hunter discovered the old church. Entering the church, there was bear at the altar, and the hunter shot and skinned the bear. The hunter subsequently settled at a deserted farm south of the church. The gathering Hedalsmessa, held at Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
, is a central event in the novel.
Reception
The book received little attention by contemporary critics in Norway. It was received with enthusiasm by the later Danish Nobel laureate Johannes V. Jensen, literary critic for the newspaper PolitikenPolitiken
Politiken is a Danish daily broadsheet newspaper, published by JP/Politikens Hus.The newspaper comes third among Danish newspapers in terms of both number of readers and circulated copies ....
. Jensen pointed at the similarities between Fønhus' picturing of the wilderness, and the international genre of wilderness writing.
Follow-up
Fønhus' literary breakthrough came with his next books, first the story collection Der Vildmarken suserDer Vildmarken suser
Der Vildmarken suser is a story collection from 1919 by Norwegian writer Mikkjel Fønhus.One of the stories, about the large killer bear "Rugg" in the Vassfaret forests, was published as a children's book in 1965, Fortellingen om slagbjønnen Rugg...
, and the subsequent novels Det skriker fra Kverrvilljuvet
Det skriker fra Kverrvilljuvet
Det skriker fra Kverrvilljuvet is a novel first published in 1920 by Norwegian writer Mikkjel Fønhus.His story collection Der Vildmarken suser and the follow-up novels Det skriker fra Kverrvilljuvet and Troll-Elgen, gave Fønhus a wide reputation for his ability to picture animal life....
and Troll-Elgen
Troll-Elgen
Troll-Elgen is a novel from 1921 by Norwegian writer Mikkjel Fønhus. The story is about the large elk "Rauten" and the hunter "Gaupe", and ends up with both the hunter and the hunted losing their lives...
.