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Knut Hamsun ( August 4, 1859 - February 19, 1952) was a leading Norwegian author, born in Lom under the name of Knud Pedersen.
He first received acclaim for his 1890 novel Sult, translated as Hunger. The semi-autobiographical work described a young writer's descent into near madness as a result of hunger and poverty. In many ways, the novel presages the writings of Franz Kafka and other twentieth-century novelists, who explored the madness of the contemporary human condition. The book has since become one of the most influential novels of the 20th century. Perhaps the work that followed it (Mysteries) is his masterpiece, however.
Other important works by Hamsun include Pan ( 1894) and The Growth of the Soil ( 1917), for which he received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1920.
Despite his immense popularity in Norway and around the world, Hamsun's reputation waned considerably because of his support of Vidkun Quisling's Nazi regime during World War IIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough. Following a meeting with Joseph GoebbelsPaul Joseph Goebbels ( October 29, 1897 May 1, 1945) was Adolf Hitler's Propaganda Minister (see Propagandaministerium in Nazi Germany. He came from a Catholic family, like many of the Nazi leaders. He was a prominent figure of the regime, known for his g in 19431943 is the common year starting on Friday. Events January January 4 End of term for Culbert Olson, 29th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Earl Warren. January 11 The United States and United Kingdom give up territorial rights in China. January 1, he sent Goebbels his Nobel Prize medal as a gift. Hamsun did meet with Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler ( April 20, 1889 April 30, 1945) was the Fuhrer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers' Party and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. In that capacity he was Chancellor of Germany, head of government, and head of state, ruling as a, however, and tried to have him remove Josef TerbovenJosef Antonius Heinrich Terboven ( May 23, 1898 May 8, 1945) was a Gauleiter of Essen and later Reichskommissar (Commissary) of Norway from 1940 to 1945, during the German occupation of World War II. He committed suicide at the war's end by blowing himsel from the position of Reichskommissar of Norway.
After the war, he was confined for several months in a psychiatric hospital for tests to determine his sanity. However, in 19481948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January January 1 Nationalisation of UK railways to form British Railways. Arab militants lay siege to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. First day of the Ital he was fined 325,000 kronerNorwegian banknotes DenominationPortrait 50 Peter Christen Asbjornsen 100 Kirsten Flagstad 200 Kristian Birkeland 500 Sigrid Undset 1000 Edvard Munch Norwegian coins 1 Krone ( 1997) Krone is the name of the currency used in Norway. The plural form is kron for collaboration.
A Danish author Thorkil Hansen investigated and wrote a book about this: The Trial Against Hamsun ( 1978Events January January 1 The Copyright Act of 1976 takes effect, making sweeping changes to United States copyright law. January 1 Air India's Boeing 747 explodes near Bombay 213 dead. January 4 Referendum in Chile supports policies of Augusto Pinochet.), which created a turmoil in Norway. Among other things Hansen stated: "If you want to meet idiots, go to Norway", since he felt that treating an old man like that was outrageous. In 1996 the Swedish director Jan Troell released a movie: Hamsun based upon Hansen's book, in which Max von Sydow plays Hamsun.