Bjoernson_portrett
Photo: Aulestad

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832-1910)

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson became the great cultural personality of the literary, cultural and political life of the time.

No issue was too small or too large.  

He stood up for the less fortunate and for the smaller nations’ right to freedom and independence.

The writer

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson wrote stories, novels, historical plays and contemporary drama and approximately 400 poems that have inspired many musicians. He wrote some 10,000 to 20,000 letters and more than 3,500 speeches and articles.

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson is tody, best known for our national anthem “Ja, vi elsker” and The Peasant Tales “Synnøve Solbakken” and  «A happy boy».

In 1903 Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson was awarded the Nobel prize for Literature for all his works.