BJÖRNSTJERNE BJÖRNSON

Arne

Björnstjerne Björnson, one of the greatest Scandinavian
writers, was born at Kvikne, in the wild region of the Dovre
Mountains, Norway, Dec. 8, 1832. His father was the village
pastor. Six years later the family removed to Naesset, on the
west coast of Norway. From the grammar school at Molde young
Björnson went to the University of Christiania, and it was
then that he began to write verses and newspaper articles. At
Upsala, in 1856, he understood that he had a definite call to
literature, and at Copenhagen the following year he wrote his
first masterpiece "Synnove Solbakken." This was followed, in
1858, by "Arne," a story which not only brought him into the
front rank of contemporary writers, but also marked a new era
in Norwegian literature. From that time there has been a
succession of novels, short stories, and plays (Björnson on
two occasions has been the director of a theatre) from his
pen. A drama, "The King," produced in 1877, had an after
effect of immense political importance. It was undoubtedly an
attack on the ruler of Norway and Sweden, and every Norwegian
who wished his country to become an independent nation
welcomed Björnson as the leader of this new movement--with
what success there is now no need to relate, since it has
become a matter of history. Björnson died April 25, 1910.