Björnsjerne Björnson (1832-1910), Playwright, Nobel Laureate

Born in Kvikne, Norway in 1832 and raised at Naesset in a farming community, Björnsjerne Björnson went on to study in Oslo and began a career in journalism as literary critic for Morgenbladet in 1854.

He began writing historical plays in 1857 and the same year "invented" what was thought of as a new genre of prose with Synnöve Solbakken (Sunny Hill) which reflected the influence of the sagas, Norse tales, and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. Also in 1857, following the publication of his first play, Between the Battles, Björnson, succeeding Henrik Ibsen, took charge of the Norwegian Theatre in Bergen which had been established by Ole Bull.

Like Ibsen, Björnson sought to rid Norwegian theatre of Danish influences and elements. When he was named director of the Christiania (Oslo) Theater in 1865, both the plays and the players were Danish, a situation Björnson soon changed.

Through this early period, he wrote primarily historical dramas, eg. Kong Sverre (1861), Sigurd Jorsalfar (1872). The best of these was probably the trilogy on Sigurd Slembe (Sigurd the Bad, 1862) about a man who was robbed of his throne by "intrigue and usurpation," but who regains his rightful place by unjust means: murder, which immoral act effects his downfall.

In 1874, Björnson wrote and produced his first two contemporary plays in a realist vein: The Editor, based on his experience at the Morgenbladet and The Bankrupt which recounts the tale of a merchant who tries to stay afloat by means of a web of lies from which he is released in the last act (some critics perhaps would say too easily) by a full confession of his errors.

Björnson focussed on themes of "natural, healthy morality." He toured extensively delivering a famous lecture, "Monogamy and Polygamy." En Hanske (A Gauntlet, 1883) deals with the notion that men should be required to bring the same standards of chastity to marriage that women are.

Björnson's best play is probably Over Evne (Beyond Human Might, 1883). He wrote a second play using the same title twelve years later. The first play deals with one Pastor Sang, who is renowned for his faith and the faith healings he effects among the faithful. Says Bratt, another minister, "A faith like his nobody has ever seen. Nor was there ever seen a faith like that aroused by his faith." Sang's wife had been paralyzed for a long while and he undertakes to cure her by prayer alone. When the woman does in fact stand a take a few steps to her husband, she suddenly collapses and dies. Sang takes her in his arms, saying "But this was not the meaning of it--? Or--? Or--?", collapses and dies as well, apparently killed by his first doubt. The later version of the play is a sequel that stands on its own. In it, Johan Sverd (Björnson's autobiographical incarnation) summarizes Björnson's view on spirituality:

Björnson's most powerful play for modern readers, Paul Lange and Tora Parsberg (1898), is based on a harrowing event in Björnson's real life. Ole Richter, a long-time friend of Björnson's and a politician connected to the joint Swedish-Norwegian foreign ministry, had been falsely accused of an unauthorized use of power. Richter told Björnson in confidence that the charges against him were untrue and swore him to secrecy in the matter. Björnson took it on himself to make the contents of this letter public. A scandal ensued which precipitated the suicide of Richter. Björnson modeled Paul Lange on Richter...

Björnson was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1903.

Björnson's Plays:
Mellem Slagene (Between the Battles) 1856
Halte-Hulda (Lame Hulda) 1858
Kong Sverre (King Sverre) 1861
Sigurd Slembe (Sigurd the Bad) 1862
Maria Stuart i Skotland (Mary Stuart in Scotland) 1864
De Nygifte (The Newlyweds) 1865
Sigurd Jorsalfar 1872
Redaktören (The Editor) 1874
En Fallit (A Business Failure) 1875
Kongen (The King) 1877
Leonarda 1879
Det Ny System (The New System) 1879
En Hanske (The Gauntlet) 1883
Over Evne (Beyond Human Might) 1883
Geografi og Kjælighed (Love and Geography)
Over Evne (Beyond Human Might II) 1895
Paul Lange and Tora Parsberg 1898
Laboremus 1901
Pä Storhove (At Storehove) 1902
Daglannet (Dayland) 1904
Nä Det Ny Vin Blomstrer (When the Young Wine Blossoms) 1909