Toril Brekke
Encyclopedia
Toril Brekke is a Norwegian novelist, writer of short stories, children's writer, biographer, translator and literary critic.
as a daughter of the poet Paal Brekke
and painter Bjørg Rasmussen. She was married to Martin Indregard from 1972 to 1982, and their son Kjetil Indregard is also a writer. She was married to professor Jon Bing
from 1988 to 1998. She worked at a bread factory, and later as a typographer, and has been a full time writer since 1982. She was a member of the Workers' Communist Party
during the early 1970s, but later renounced communism.
. Her novel Granitt (1994) is a family cronicle, the novel Ibsens røde lykt (1996) is about sexual assault, while Sara (2001) and Brostein (2003) are historical novels.
She has issued the short stories collections Jakarandablomsten (1985), Blindramme (1997)and Enkenes paradis (2000). Among her books for children and youth are Gutten i regnet (1978), Mannen som hatet fotball (1987) and Roser fra tribunene (2000). She has written a biography of her father, Paal Brekke. En kunstner. Et liv (2002).
Brekke received the Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment
in 1999. She was awarded the Riksmål Society Literature Prize
in 2000. She was leader of Nordnorsk Forfatterlag from 1979 to 1980, of
the Norwegian Authors' Union
from 1987 to 1991 and of the Norwegian branch of International PEN
from 1992 to 1997. She was a board member for the National Theatre
from 1990 to 1992.
Early and personal life
Brekke was born in OsloOslo
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...
as a daughter of the poet Paal Brekke
Paal Brekke
Paal Brekke was a Norwegian lyricist, novelist, translator of poetry, and literary critic. Brekke fled from occupied Norway to Sweden in 1940, when he was 17 years old. He made his literary debut in 1942, with the poetry collection Av din jord er vi til...
and painter Bjørg Rasmussen. She was married to Martin Indregard from 1972 to 1982, and their son Kjetil Indregard is also a writer. She was married to professor Jon Bing
Jon Bing
Jon Bing is a Norwegian writer and law professor at the Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law , and the Faculty of Law at the University of Oslo. Bing is considered to be a pioneer in international legal information...
from 1988 to 1998. She worked at a bread factory, and later as a typographer, and has been a full time writer since 1982. She was a member of the Workers' Communist Party
Workers' Communist Party (Norway)
The Workers' Communist Party was a Norwegian communist party . AKP was a maoist party and one of two communist parties in Norway; the other was the older Communist Party of Norway which has remained pro-Soviet. The relationship between the two parties was characterized by strong hostility.AKP was...
during the early 1970s, but later renounced communism.
Literary career
Brekke made her literary debut in 1976 with the novel Jenny har fått sparken ('Jenny Has Been Fired'), about factory women's fight against their employer. Den gylne tonen (1980) is about women's situation in the society, while Filmen om Chatilla (1983) is from the Lebanon conflictsLebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
. Her novel Granitt (1994) is a family cronicle, the novel Ibsens røde lykt (1996) is about sexual assault, while Sara (2001) and Brostein (2003) are historical novels.
She has issued the short stories collections Jakarandablomsten (1985), Blindramme (1997)and Enkenes paradis (2000). Among her books for children and youth are Gutten i regnet (1978), Mannen som hatet fotball (1987) and Roser fra tribunene (2000). She has written a biography of her father, Paal Brekke. En kunstner. Et liv (2002).
Brekke received the 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 1999. She was awarded 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 2000. She was leader of Nordnorsk Forfatterlag from 1979 to 1980, of
the Norwegian Authors' Union
Norwegian Authors' Union
The Norwegian Authors' Union is an association of Norwegian authors. It was established in 1893 to promote Norwegian literature and protect Norwegian authors' professional and economic interests. DnF also works in solidarity with persecuted writers internationally.As of 2004 the association had...
from 1987 to 1991 and of the Norwegian branch of International PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
from 1992 to 1997. She was a board member for the National Theatre
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
from 1990 to 1992.