What happened before: Archive

Latest news.

Hamsun-days in Hamarøy. 31.July-08.August 2010:
Every other year this cornucopia of cultural events around Knut Hamsun takes place, in the middle of the most beautiful North-Norwegian landscape. The programme is ready now: Read more...
Source: www.knuthamsun.no 13.05.2010

The foundation Ibsen and Hamsun, Grimstad. The foundation Ibseniana and the Grimstad branch of the Hamsun-Society have now merged into one new foundation. The reason behind is, that the Ibseniana and the Hamsun-Society in Grimstad for several years have co-operated so closely as to have joint steering committee meetings and working together on all events, especially the yearly Ibsen- and Hamsun-days. The last years they have de facto acted as one society.
Source: Ola Veigaard 29.04.2010

The Hamsun-Society literary seminar 2010:
One of the main activities of the Hamsun-Society is the popular literary seminar during the Hamsun-festival in Hamarøy, which this year takes place from 31. July to 8. August. The literary seminar itself takes place from 4. to 6. August and the preliminary programme is now ready with many exiting items. See the preliminary programme here...
Source: Even Arntzen 27.04.2010

The Petter Dass-medal 2010 goes to director Bodil Børset and the Hamsuncentre:
This year's Petter Dass-medal is awarded to the Hamsuncentre and it's managing director Bodil Børset as "... an encouragement and support for the important work Bodil Børset has in front of her: to give the Hamsuncentre the significance, which the awarding committee mean Knut Hamsun and the Centre deserve – not just to the county of Nordland and to Norway – but to the world". The medal is awarded by the Nordlændingernes Forening, an honourable society founded 1862, and the medal has since 1912 been given to individuals, merited by Northern Norway. Among former prize-winners are H.M. Queen Sonja, Richard With (the coastal steamer Hurtigruten), the Sami singer Mari Boine and the artist Kaare Espolin Johnson. Heartfelt congratulations Bodil!
Source: Nordlændingernes Forening 15.02.2010

Hamsun evening in Kolding Thursday 25. February 2010 at 6.30pm in Nikolai biograf og Cafe:
The evening is a collaboration between the Folkeuniversitetet, Fritze Lundstrøm from Nikolaj biograf and Foreningen NORDEN. The theme: "A controversial Norwegian and a literary giant." will be addressed by the literary scientist Jonas Kjærgaard Laursen. The theme will distinguish between an author's literary work and political preferences. With the novel "Hunger" (1890) Knut Hamsun entered the European literary premier league and he received the Nobel Prize in 1920 for the novel "Growth of the Soil" (1917). Is it possible to praise literary works by an author, who supported Germany during the war? Can the political errors of the author be found in his books? Do we have to abandon the idea of art as educative and source of good manners? Based on such questions Hamsun's works will be discussed. Afterwards Henning Carlsen's film "Hunger" (1966) will be shown.

Victoria statue to Valdres:
A donation of NOK 300.000 from Sparebankstiftelsen makes it possible for Hamsun-enthusiasts in Aurdal to erect a statue of Hamsun's Victoria at the old coaching station. The sculptress Nina Sundbye has cast a series of bronzes of young Victoria. Knut Hamsun wrote the novel whilst living in Aurdal. - We had hoped to unveil the statue at the Hamsun-jubilee this summer, but it did not work out. But next summer it will for sure be in place, say Ida Karin Dale and Bjørn Husevold, who on behalf of the foundation Frydenlund received the donation from Sparebankstiftelsen last Friday.
Source: Oppland Arbeiderblad 4. December 2009

"Hunger" in the Diamond. Hamsun's "Hunger" as a theatre play 25. November 2009:
As a tribute to Hamsun on his 150. jubilee 3 actors will perform his masterpiece Hunger as a theatre play.
End of November you can experience the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun's novel "Hunger" told by 3 actors and visualized through pictures, sound and letters from the collections of the Royal Library.
Politiken Plus in collaboration with the Royal Library invite to "Hunger" in The Black Diamond in Copenhagen.
The piece is played by Peter Gilsfort, Cecilia Zwick Nash and Gerz Feigenberg, who also wrote the manuscript and dramatized the novel.
"Hunger was a plight, that Hamsun was born into. He lacked the supreme, the border-breaking, the super-human, the true. And then he dreamt of recognition from those, he despised.
But when he got it, he could not free himself from the contempt or the pleasure of the suffering of being outcast. The play will be a passionate re-telling of Hunger combined with references to other books, thoughts, letters, incidents and photos, captured on the stage", says Lise Bach Hansen from the Royal Library.
Source: Politiken Plus

Hamsun in Vesterålen:
During the Hamsun-jubilee celebrations in Vesterålen from 18.-20. September Leif Hamsun unveiled a bust of his grandfather in Sortland Hotell. Knut Hamsun stayed here from time to time in 1911–12 while working on the novel "Look back on Happiness" (Den sidste Glæde). He stayed in Sortland hotel in room no. 10. This room has been restored into a "Hamsun-room" with, among others, the original door from Hamsun's days at the hotel. Read more at the National Library here: Nasjonalbiblioteket. The bust was made by the artist Nicolaus Widerberg.
Source: Leif Hamsun and Nasjonalbiblioteket 23.09.2009.

Please note:
Slowly but surely you will find reports and photos from some of the Hamsun-events, where we participated. These accounts you will find under Festival reports.

Memorial plaque for Marie and Knut Hamsun
During the festival Fossedagene in Sollia 5 September, county mayor Arnfinn Nergård unveiled a plaque in honour of Marie and Knut Hamsun. The plaque will be placed at Hamsun's cottage, The Castle, which lies close to Atnebrufossen. Just married Marie and Knut Hamsun lived here for a year from summer 1909 to summer 1910 in the nearby guesthouse. Here he wrote the novel "Wanderers" (En vandrer spiller med sordin) and the play "In the Grip of Life" (Livet i vold). These titles together with a portrait of the couple adorn the plaque.
Source: Østlendingen and Steinar Olsen.

Knut Hamsun's wars:
The support to the nazis and the German forces has made Hamsun Norway's most controversial poet ever, and it is especially this aspect of Hamsun's life and works that the foundation Stiftelsen Akershus festning for kunst og kultur (SAKK) wish to throw light on by lectures, debates and artistic performances. All events are free and all events take place at Akershus castle, apart from the opening ceremony, which takes place at Norges Hjemmefrontmuseum, from 2.-6. September. Among the participants are Lars Frode Larsen, the theatre Beint Fram, Kjartan Fløgstad and many others. See the programme here: Programme and read more at the national Library here: Nasjonalbiblioteket.
Source: Olaf Haagensen 26.08.2009

Hamsun-room in the former Frydenlund skysstasjon in Aurdal:
During the Hamsun-jubilee celebrations in Valdres 22. August Leif Hamsun inaugurated a Hamsun-room, which will contain a permanent mini-museum in one of the former guesthouse's smaller rooms. Knut Hamsun had a life-long friendship with the son of the house, Erik Frydenlund and Hamsun sent his own two sons Tore and Arild here to strengthen their health in the fresh mountain air and for them to attend school here for some time.

Hamsun-bust unveiled in Hamsun-lounge:
The flagship of the coastal line Hurtigruten, M/S Midnatsol, has - as you may know - an impressive lounge named after Knut Hamsun. To complete this lounge a bust of Knut Hamsun made by the Norwegian artist Stina Marie Velten Edfeldt was unveiled on 20. August 2009. Really a remarkable fine bust, precisely showing the personality of Knut Hamsun - both the strong, unique, masterful author and the sensitive, vulnerable human being behind. Really an excellent initiative by hotel manager Steinar Olsen, who has now furnished a lounge, which invites to reflection and inspiration for M/S Midnatsol's passengers and visitors. The unveiling was done by the owner of this website, Kirsten Hedvig Rasmussen, with some reflections over the ambiguity in Knut Hamsun's life and works.

Stina Velten, Steinar Olsen and Hedvig Rasmusen at the unveiling of the Hamsun-bust onboard M/S Midnatsol

Hamsun-bust on Knut Hamsun's Square in Grimstad:
On June 19. 2009 a bust of Knut Hamsun was disclosed on the square in front of Grimstad library. The library will, be the way, soon be transformed into a Knut Hamsun museum. The square was at the same time renamed into "Knut Hamsuns plass". The bust was made by the sculpturer Roald Olsson in 1994. Knut Hamsun's grandchild Anne Marie Thurmann-Moe got the bust as a birthday present from her husband Jan in 2000 but they both planned to donate the bust to Grimstad city, when time was ripe. The 19. June Anne Marie Thurmann-Moe herself unveiled the bust in the presence of among others the artist's son Bengt Olsson, Knut Hamsun's grandchildren Leif and Ingeborg and a large number of citizens of Grimstad and mayor Hans Antonsen.

Bengt Olsson and A.M.Thurmann-Moe Leif Hamsun, A.M.Thurmann-Moe and Ingeborg Hamsun

Plaque on Hotel Norge in Lillesand:
During the festival LillesandsDa'ene 2009 the 21.June a plaque was unveiled at Hotel Norge in Lillesand commemorating Knut Hamsun's many stays here. The mayor of Lillesand, Arne Thomassen, unveiled the plaque after a cultural-historic walk "in the footsteps of Hamsun in Lillesand". Hamsun's home, Nørholm, belonged in Hamsun's days to the township of Eide between Grimstad and Lillesand, but Knut Hamsun mostly stayed at Hotel Norge and Lillesand, when he needed tranquility to write.

Mayor Arne Thomassen in front of Hotel Norge, Lillesand

The Hamsun-jubilee 2009 in Vågå/Lom 31. July - 8. August:
The already abundant programme for the jubilee in Lom and Vågå (see below) has been updated. Please find the programme here: Programme Lom/Vågå.
Source: Nasjonalbiblioteket 12.06.2009

Hamsun- and Ibsen days in Grimstad 13.-16. August (with a prelude from 10.-12. August):
Also in Grimstad, Knut Hamsun's hometown for more than 30 years, the 150. jubilee will be celebrated during the yearly Hamsun- and Ibsendays, as usual in co-operation between the Hamsun-Society in Grimstad and the foundation Ibseniana. "This year's literary festival in Grimstad offers film, theatre, literary seminars, concerts, recitations, exhibitions, hikes and guided tours. We will use the whole town, the archipelago and the surrounding areas" , the organisers promise. Do take part in the celebration of Hamsun and of 20 years literary festivals in Grimstad! Enjoy the beautiful harbour town of Grimstad and the exiting programme. The enthusiastic organisers have again found interesting and surprising events and at the same time kept the unique character of this festival. See the whole programme here: Programme or visit the website of the Hamsun- and Ibsen days at www.hamsunibsen.no .
Source: Eva Wiksén Næser 27.05.2009

Growth of the Soil in Lom:
Juni Dahr and Gard B. Eidsvold's modern and well-received theatre-in-the-barn performance of Hamsun's Growth of the Soil is now visiting Lom. The active and dedicated Hamsunlaget i Lom (The Hamsun Society in Lom) has managed to secure 3 performances from 26.-28. June in the barn at Garmostræet. Here you will find the facts: Time, tickets, accomodation and more: Invitation, press release and poster.
If these dates are not optimal for you or if you live too far away, you can find more dates and other locations here: www.dahr.no . Welcome to an inspiring performance!
Source: Torunn Kjøk 21.05.2009

Hamsun in Hamburg:
The Hamsun-jubilee is celebrated everywhere. Also the Norwegian Club in Hamburg had chosen Hamsun as theme during the Norwegian national day festivities on 17. May. The owner of this website, Kirsten Hedvig Rasmussen, held the festive address at the club dinner under the title: "Knut Hamsun - with a twinkle in the eye". This 120 years old club was founded on the national day 17. May 1889. Heartfelt congratulations on the day!
17.05.2009

Summer–Melbu 3. – 5. July 2009
Welcome to Summer-Melbu! For the 24. time this unique combination of literary science, philosophy, music, art, local life-style and much more is taking place here on Vesterålen, far north of the arctic circle. The Nordland Academy for Arts and Science invites to it's literary seminar: "Litteratur som kollektivt minne. Omdreiningspunkt Knut Hamsuns forfatterskap" (Literature as collective memory. Focal point the works of Knut Hamsun). The topics raised are, whether re-reading Hamsun's texts may stimulate our collective memory and how literary reading is affected by cultural and historical background. Meet the author Carsten Jensen and a series of exiting lecturers in the middle of the most beautiful arctic summer. Please find here the Nordland Academy and the programme for the literary seminar. Read also our own report from the previous Summer-Melbu 2007 and be inspired to partake yourself!
Source: Aaslaug Vaa 14.05.2009

Hamsun conference at the University of Oslo:
The University of Oslo invites to a Hamsun conference from 27.-29 August titled: "Transgression, worlding and remediation". Themes are among others transgression in Hamsun's works, Hamsun in world literature and Hamsun's works adapted for theatre, film and other media. The conference will be opened by Lars Saabye Christensen and Hamsun scientists from Norway and from abroad are participating. There will be plenary lectures and parallel sessions. The social programme will include music and reception by the City of Oslo. Read more at Institutt for lingvistiske og nordiske studier and see the programme here.
Source: Martin Humpal 22.04.2009

Hamsun-festival in Hamarøy 1.-9. August 2009:
Finally it came, the longed-for programme for this year's Hamsun-festival in Hamarøy. We can look forward to concerts, literary hikes, art exhibitions, debates and poets.... As usual exiting days await us: the enthusiastic citizens of Hamarøy, we visitors, who come every year and especially you, who may participate for the first time.
The main event is off-course the inauguration of the Hamsun-centre (with royal participation?) on Hamsun's birthday August 4th; the traditional Literary seminar asks "Why is Hamsun's literature disturbing?" and acknowledged literary scientists gives their opinion; the concerts include contemporary music/theatre, church concerts over jazz to beloved Mari Boine; there will be dark, grotesque figure-theatre and there will be market days and partying.
Here you can see the programme for the Hamsun-festival, here is the programme for the literary seminar and here is the website of the Hamsun-festival.
This is Norway's most beautiful festival for you, who desire culture at high-level, amazing nature and enjoy the company of happy and dedicated people. Visit Hamarøy in August!
10.05.2009

Piano for Hamarøy:
Locals in Hamarøy are running a fundraising campaign in order to acquire a piano for the hall in the new Hamsun-centre. "We want Hamarøy to host concerts with the best artists possible and therefore a proper piano is a must." The piano is thought to be a present from the people and the business world in the region and it will be possible to donate either through sponsoring or via "buying" keys or strings. Read more how to participate here: Flygelaksjonen.
Source: Elin Eidsvik 28.04.2009

Hamsun-blog at Kristiansand library:
Kristiansand folkebibliotek is celebrating Hamsun's 150. jubilee with a blog: http://hamsun2009.blogspot.com. Everybody with an opinion on or an experience to Knut Hamsun's works can participate here. Taste is difficult to discuss. Some prefer "Hunger", others find "Women at the pump" the absolute best novel from Hamsun's hand. Whether you agree or not; Kristiansand library wants to hear your opinion or your story.
Source: Reidar Bjorvatn, Kristiansand folkebibliotek 23.04.2009

The Hamsun-jubilee 2009 in Vågå/Lom 31. July - 8. August:
Hamsunlaget i Lom, the local branch of the Hamsun-Society, has exceeded themselves this year and brought out an exiting programme. Here are art exhibitions with a.o. Karl Erik Harr, chef Arne Brimi serves food with quality, Marianne Hamsun reads from Marie Hamsun's books, there will be folk-music and classical concerts, there will be literary seminars with lectures from a.o. Edvard Hoem, lectures from Russia and China (in Norwegian!), lectures from Trondheim to Paris, there will be guided tours, there will be rock and festivity AND like Oslo, Hamarøy and Grimstad this is one of the 4 national celebrations. All this in the area, where Knut Hamsun was born and later confirmed. Visit Vågå and Lom and experience the valley, where 3 Nobel-price winners in literature have their roots: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Knut Hamsun and Sigrid Undset! See the abundant programme at www.hamsunlaget.no.

Hamsun-summer at Kjerringøy:
Two summer weekends full of cultural activities at Kjerringøy and in Bodø related to Knut Hamsun's 150-jubilee.
5. - 7. June and 1. - 2. August 2009.   For more info visit www.kjerringoy.info
Source: May Beate Jensen 23.04.2009

Visit the Hålogaland Theatre in Tromsø and see Hamsun's "Feberdigte":
Some of Northern-Norway's most prominent artists offer a unique guided tour through the magic world of theatre. Starting point is Hamsun's poems from 1904. Experience Tromsø's new theatre building, where the play will give you a sensuous, musical and visual experience and where the audience will be taken to places normally restricted.
The Hålogaland Theatre is famous for it's Hamsun performances, where Hamsun has been on the programme the last 3 years. Read more at the theatre here: Hålogaland Teater.
Source: Even Arntsen, The Hamsun-Society 20.04.2009

Busy artist:
The painter Arne Sandervang is quite busy during this Hamsunyear. His jubilee exhibition is presently scheduled to be shown at the following venues:
- Blå Kube Kunst in Tvedestrand 16. - 24. May 2009
- Bogstad Gård in Oslo 2. -7. June 2009
- Atelier Bendiksklev in Arendal 10. - 16. June 2009
- Bjarkøydagene at Bjarkøy in Troms 23. - 25. June 2009
- Sommer-Melbu in Melbu, Vesterålen 3. - 12. July 2009 and participation in the literary seminar with the lecture: "Hamsun - fra tekst til bilder"
- Sorenskrivegården in Grimstad 18. - 26. July 2009
- Lom folkebibliotek in Lom 1. - 5. August 2009 and participation in the literary seminar with the lecture: "Hamsun - fra tekst til bilder"
- Bjelde Gård in Sogndal 24. - 26. August 2009
Furthermore he will give a talk at the internasjonal conference "Hamsun 2009 - Transgression, worlding and remediation" at the University of Oslo, Institute for Linguistic and Nordic Studies (ILN) 27. - 29. august 2009. The working title is "Visual adaption of Hamsun´s texts - from novels to oil paintings".
Source: Arne Sandervang 27.03.2009

Knut Hamsun in Rendsburg:
Nordkolleg in Rendsburg, Northern Germany invites to a seminar: "Knut Hamsun lesen" from 5.-7. June. Here there will be focus on Knut Hamsun's life as well as on his works. Especially the novels »Mysterien«, »Segen der Erde« und »Auf überwachsenen Pfaden« will be highlighted. The seminar will be chaired by the wellknown Hamsun expert professor Walter Baumgartner. Please find the programme here: Programme and read more about the Nordkolleg itself here: www.nordkolleg.de .
Source: Uwe Krzewina 24.03.2009

Hamsun at the Nansen Academy:
Unfortunately - and luckily - it is impossible to mention all the numerous events taking place exactly now in the jubilee year. We can only highly recommend to visit the National Library calendar at www.hamsun.no, it is updated constantly!
We do want, however, to mention the Nansen Academy in Lillehammer and it's seminar from 20.-23. May: "Har vi ham nå? Knut Hamsun sett gjennom ulike tidsbriller." (Have we finally got him? Hamsun seen through different time spectales). Here are Hamsun, Undset, Bjørnson - here are films and excursions - and here are lectures by competent Hamsun researchers, but do see the inspiring programme yourself at: www.nansenskolen.no. Immideately after this seminar, Lillehammer continues with it's famous Norsk Litteraturfestival from 26.-31. May.
13.03.2009

Hamsun-week in Oslo:
The Oslo section of the Hamsun-Society invites you to a Hamsun-week at the Litteraurhuset in Oslo from 20.-26. April. A number of renowned autors and literary scientists from Norway and abroad promise new views. You may enjoy highlights from Hamsun's lectures performed by the actor Jørgen Langhelle. AND Leif Hamsun will tell memories from his summers on Nørholm. Read more about the exiting programme here: Programme Hamsun-week.
Source: Christian Schlüter 20.02.2009

Exultation in Grimstad:
On it's sitting on 2. February, the city council of Grimstad decided - after a long and passionate debate - to name the square in front of the library "Knut Hamsun's square". The library itself will soon be turned into a Knut Hamsun museum. Furthermore the city council decided, that a Hamsun-bust, donated to the museums of Grimstad by Anne Marie Thurmann-Moe, is to be placed in front of the library. Cheers to the initiators and to the city of Grimstad! Several newspaper articles comment the case. Read more here (in Norwegian!): Sesam.
Source: Ola Veigaard 02.02.2009

The very first Hamsun-event in the jubilee year?
On 10.January 2009 the upgrading of the Hamsun-lounge onboard the coastal express M/S Midnatsol was celebrated with a reception. Present were not less than 6 members of the Hamsun-family, representatives of the Hamsun-Society, from the Hamsun-Centre, the National Library, the publishing house Gyldendal as well as several Hamsun researchers. Hotel manager Steinar Olsen has done a marvellous job to visualize Knut Hamsun and his works even more to the 100.000 Norwegian and international passengers and visitors travelling every year onboard M/S Midnatsol. Really an excellent initiative! Congratulations to Hurtigruten! Read more and see the pictures here: M/S Midnatsol.
10.02.2009

M/S Midnatsol

Preview:
The Hamsun-Society, Oslo presents Growth of the Soil - a piece of lost, found and restored film-history. A unique film-soiree awaits you if you are in Oslo on Tuesday, December 2nd 2008 at 7 PM in Sofies gate 65! Admission is free, but seats are limited so please make a reservation at Christian Schlüter, chhaako@online.no, a.s.a.p. See the invitation here: Invitation.
Source: Christian Schlüter 27.11.2008

Hamsun in Vasa II:
The programme for the festival Knut Hamsun in Vasa 3.-28. November 2008 is now finalized. Do see the very attractive and tempting programme here: Hamsun in Vasa
Source: Inge Fagerbakk 02.11.2008

New website for the Hamsun jubilee:
As you may know, the National Library in Oslo is coordinator for the celebrations around the Hamsun jubilee 2009. For this purpose the National Library has opened a new website - graphically well done and very informative. Do visit www.hamsun.no and be updated as to what is going on in 2009. The domain www.hamsun.no was made available by courtesy of the foundation Stiftelsen Nørholm, who had used it for it's information on Knut and Marie Hamsun's life at Nørholm. You may now read about Hamsun and Nørholm under www.hamsun.org .
18.10.2008

The Hamsun-jubilee official logo

Hamsun in Vasa:
The University of Vasa, Finland is not - like the rest of the world - waiting for 2009, but opens the 150th jubilee already Monday, November 3rd and celebrates Knut Hamsun all November - see the preliminary programme here: Hamsun in Vasa 3.-28.11.2008, Inge Fagerbakk from Vasa University tells us. The celebrations are especially targeted towards young people and in particular towards students. The university wishes to visualize Hamsun as an author, to raise curiosity among young Finnish people on Hamsun as a acting citizen. There will be literature, film, art exhibitions, photo-contest and history of civilization throughout the 4 weeks. Really an exiting and multifarious initiative!
Source: Inge Fagerbakk 04.10.2008

Hamsun opera:
From September 1st. tickets can be bought for the new opera-season at the Opera in Kristiansund, Norway. Immensely exiting for Hamsun enthusiasts as the opera during it's opera-festival in February 2009 will have the first performance of the opera: "Young Hamsun" with music by Knut Anders Vestad and libretto by Edvard Hoem. The plot is taking place the 5 months Hamsun lived in Kristiansund from November 1891 to April 1892. In this period he finalized the novel Mysteries and here he entered in the radical circles around Kalla and Hans Martin Neeraas.
Moreover Hamsun-ballads will be performed during a concert at the Arnulf Øverland Gallery on February 14th 2009 and on February 8th we can enjoy "Young voices sing Hamsun" in the concert hall Festiviteten in Kristiansund.
Read more at the Operaen i Kristiansund under www.oik.no and at Arnulf Øverland Galleriet under www.aoeg.no and order your tickets now!
13.09.2008

Causerie at the Arnulf Øverland Gallery:
The Arnulf Øverland Gallery in Kristiansund, western Norway is - during the opera-festival - hosting a causerie on Knut Hamsun by Odd Georg Murud. Murud is a well-known lecturer, reciter and singer and he will visit the gallery on February 10th. 2009. Find more under www.aoeg.no .
13.09.2008

Hamsun in Bardu:
Bardu municipality in northern Norway is preparing the Hamsun-jubilee 2009 and is in this context searching for traces of Knut Hamsun. It could be photos, letters or notes either by Hamsun himself or people connected with him, it could be stories or anecdotes, places related to Hamsun or other. These memories will be used in exhibitions and documentation. If you could contribute, it will be highly appreciated. Please contact the Hamsun-committee, which is Bjarne Kollstrøm, Steivor Bjellmo and Tor Holmstad (tel: +47 77 18 52 18, e-mail: tor.holmstad@bardu.kommune.no).
Read more at the municipality of Bardu under www.bardu.kommune.no .
13.09.2008

Hamsun in Tromsø:
Hålogaland Theatre in Tromsø, northern Norway is now staging Hamsun's Pan from September 4th until October 11th. Then the play will be performed in Alta (16. October), Finnsnes (19. October) and Harstad (20. October). Pan concludes the Hamsun-trilogy, which started with Benoni and Rosa in 2005 and Mysteries in 2006.
Read more at Hålogaland Theatre under www.ht.tr.no .
13.09.2008

The Hamsun-Society bursary goes to...
The Hamsun-Society bursary was awarded during the Hamsun-festival in Hamarøy to the Russian literary scientist and translator Eleonora Pankratova. She receives the prize for her unremitting efforts for new translations and new editions of Hamsun's work in Russian. This work is of extreme importance today, as the Russian-speaking world traditionally was one of the places, where Hamsun was most popular and where people have cherished, recognized and understood Hamsun's characters and Hamsun's universe. Therefore it is so important, that also the next generation of Russians will have access to Hamsun's works. A heartfelt CONGRATULATIONS to Eleonora Pankratova!
06.08.2008

Eleonora Pankratova with Leif Hamsun

New Hamsun-project planned:
The Hamsun-laget in Lom [The Hamsun-Society in Lom] is planning a new visitor's centre, Hamsuniana, next to Hamsun's parent's home in Lom, in the heart of Norway. The building is planned for smaller seminars, concerts, exhibitions and meetings. It will accomodate the library of the society as well as storage room, offices and toilet facilities. Do visit the website of the society at www.hamsunlaget.no and see the architect's drawings. Another exiting present for the 2009 jubilee! We wish the Hamsun-laget all the best with their project!
Source: www.hamsunlaget.no 15.07.2008

Growth of the Soil:
If you missed Gard B. Eidsvold and Juni Dahr's exiting "theatre in the barn" production of Growth of the Soil last year, you will have the chance again this year. The play will be performed several times in summer and autumn in different places all around Norway from Bygdøy to Hammerfest. Do visit www.dahr.no to see where and when the play is performed near you and make a reservation. It is highly recommended!
Source: Marianne Roland 17.06.2008

Hamsun's printing office knocked down:
Knut Hamsun had his first work "Den Gaadefulde" (The Enigmatic) published and printed in Tromsø. The rear building in Skippergata 19, where the print shop was located, had long been a ruin and has now been knocked down to make space for flats. A conservation officer has stated, that a restauration was not possible due to the bad state of the building, but to Hamsun-enthusiasts and to lovers of architecture and old houses and for the history of the city of Tromsø it was still sad news.
Source: www.nordlys.no 12.06.2008

Hamsun's first print shop: Skippergata 19, Tromsø

Stone-laying ceremony at the Hamsun-centre in Hamarøy II:
I did not have the chance to be present at the stone-laying ceremony last Monday, alas, - there are 2846 kilometers up there and equally many home :-). It was a memorable day not only for Hamarøy but for the entire "Hamsun-community" with everybody out and prominent guests. If you read Norwegian, you may read the story at the newspaper Lokalavisa Nordsalten here: www.nord-salten.no or you can at least enjoy their photo gallery here: Photos.
28.05.2008

The programme for the literary seminar at the Hamsun-festival is now ready:
The Hamsun-Society literary seminar is one of the cornerstones of the Hamsun-festival in Hamarøy and this year the literary seminar takes place from 06.-08. August. The programme is already finalized and offers exiting events: Mayer Rolf Steffensen will open the seminar, we have lectures by our very own Nils-Magne Knutsen as well as other Norwegian experts, there will be lectures from Berlin (in Norwegian language!), there will be a reception at Hamsun's farm Skogheim and last but not least a speech by controversial Gerd-Liv Valla, so we are in for exiting days! See the whole programme and how to register here: Literary seminar.
Source: Hamsun-Selskapet 13.05.2008

Stone-laying ceremony at the Hamsun-centre in Hamarøy:
Nordland county and Hamarøy municipality are now celebrating the laying of the foundation stone and start of construction of the Hamsun-centre in Hamarøy: Monday 26.May 2008 at 2.00pm. Fylkesordfører Mariette Korsrud will lay the stone and there will be a small ceremony with addresses, cultural elements and information on the project.
A detailed programme will follow, but so far we are offering the following:
* Performance by award-winning Wakka Wakka from New York.
* Children's choir from Hamarøy
* Newly composed piece for trumpet by Hamarøy-composer Lars Skoglund
* An experience of culture and nature in the open in Hamsun's own Hamarøy.
Source: Else Werring, Nordland fylkeskommune 09.05.2008

Photomontage: Hamsunsenteret ©Steven Holl Architects

Paul Auster and Henning Carlsen on "Hunger":
The famous author Paul Auster and his equally famous wife, the author Siri Hustvedt, are participating in Copenhagen's new international literary festival CPH.LITT.08, taking place from 6. to 8. June in Huset i Magstræde.
In one session film director Henning Carlsen and Paul Auster talk on Carlsen's film "Hunger", which was one of the impulses for the start of Auster's authorship. In another session Siri Hustvedt meets the danish author Naja Marie Aidt, award-winner of the Nordisk Råds Litteraturpris 2008.
The new literary festival offer 125 other events in the course of the two days. Tickets can be bought at billetnet or billetlugen from Wednesday 7. May at 10am. There will only be 150 tickets available for each session at the festival, where the preparations took 3 years.
See more at www.cphlitt08.dk
Source: May Beate Jensen 09.05.2008

The Oslo section of the Hamsun-Society invites to two events:
Saturday 3. May: Guided tour in the new premises of the publishing house Gyldendal. Then there is the possibility to see an unique exhibition of all of Hamsun's (and Ibsen's) first editions (41 Hamsun-objects and 24 Ibsen). The volumes have been borrowed from Kjell Ulrichsen's collections. Info-material will be distributed. The exhibition will end soon after this date, so take advantage!
Meeting-point on Sehesteds plass, outside the Gyldendal-entrance (the copper door) at 12.00 noon.
Thursday 15. May: Maria Giese's film "Hunger" (USA 2007) will be shown, starring Joseph Culp as the "I" character. The plot has been moved to today's Los Angeles, where the unemployed script writer roams the town and offers his works to negative producers. The film will hardly be shown in the cinemas in Norway. We are showing a DVD on a large screen. The DVD is kindly put at our disposal by Marie Giese.
Meeting-point in Sofies gate 65 (the basement, one flight of stairs down), Bislett. Door are open from 7.00 PM. Short introduction. The film is free to members of the Hamsun-Society. Food and drink for purchase.
Please find the programme here: Programme.
NB! Reservation mandatory: Send an email to: Chhaako@online.no . Limited number of seats.
Source: Christian Schlüter 17.04.2008

Hamsun-museum in Grimstad:
Congratulations to Grimstad! The city council has just decided to build a completely new library on the waterfront. That means, that the planned Hamsun-museum can get it's premises in the former children's library. The trial against Knut Hamsun after the war took place exactly here, so the Hamsun-museum will be on "historical grounds". Really excellent news here just before the jubilee next year!
Source: Ola Veigaard 09.04.2008

Follow the construction of the Hamsun Centre on webcam:
It is again possible to follow the construction works in Hamarøy. For those of us, who don't just take the bike and pop down to the building site, the webcam of the county library is a good alternative. Right now there are beautiful pictures from snow-covered Hamarøy and you can see the road constructions in the left of the picture. Have a look at: http://www2.digibib.no/hamsunsenteret/hamsunsenteret.jpg
Source: Sølvi Riise, nfk 03.04.2008

Ibsen- and Hamsun days in Grimstad 2008:
The annual Ibsen-Hamsun or Hamsun-Ibsen days in Grimstad take place from 6.-10. August. Though focus is on Ibsen this year, you will enjoy a lot of exiting performances. You may for example meet Juni Dahr, who last year had a huge success with "Growth of the Soil". This year she is "Ibsen's Women". Anita Terese Eriksen is showing the performance "Laura", who was probably the inspiration for Ibsen's Nora figure. Please visit www.ibsenhamsun.no to read more about the many events, which will be published soon.
Source: Agderposten 27.03.2008

The Hamsun-jubilee has commenced!
The theatre group Teater NOR has already now started the celebration of the 150. jubilee with the performance "Knut is dead" (sic!) - Here we have to remind ourselves, that the former Norwegian minister Lars Roar Langslet called Knut Hamsun "the most alive poet amongst all our dead poets". Teater NOR promises "a documentary journey to Knut Hamsun's loved Hamarøy - through grand North-Norwegian nature, over tough literary-scientific obstinacy to intimate secrets of the project participants". First performance will be on 28.March at Gimle, Stamsund, Lofoten Islands and more performances are scheduled 8.-9. April at MS Innvik, Oslo. Please find the theatre's own website here: www.teaternor.com .
Source: Nina Frang Høyum 26.03.2008

Hamsun-festival in Hamarøy 2008:
One of the most controversial personalities of the last months Gerd-Liv Valla, former leader of the Norwegian unions, is participating in this year's Hamsun-days.
She has earlier expressed strong criticism on psychiatrics and (lack of) ethics - especially in the case of consultative work, with Knut Hamsun as an obvious example.
With the theme "Authority and Morals" and the lecturer Gerd-Liv Valla, the Literary Seminar has secured a controversial and exiting constellation. Prepare for an engaging literary seminar!
Source: Hamsundagene 26.03.2008

New German book on Hamsun's early works:
"Gegen den Strom. Über den frühen Knut Hamsun" (Tectum-Verlag Marburg 2008). "Against the Tide" Dr. Ulrich Kriehn calls his newest book, where the literary scientist reviews the literary trends in Norway between 1870 and 1890 and puts Hamsun's works into this context. The book is scientific with many notes, but also short and easily read (86 pages). The book can be bought through www.tectum-verlag.de or www.amazon.de and it costs €19,90.
26.03.2008

Memorial coin:
On the occasion of the 150. jubilee in 2009 the National Bank of Norway, Norges Bank, plan to issue a memorial coin in silver, writes director of public relations at Norges Bank, Siv Meisingseth, in a press statement. The date for the issue is not yet fixed. Please find the press release here: www.norges-bank.no/Pages/Article____68467.aspx .
Source: Norges Bank 14.03.2008

Hamsun-festival in Hamarøy 2008:
The programme for this year's Hamsun-days in Hamarøy 4.-10. August is now taking shape. The theme this year will be "Authority and Morals" and a number of exiting artists have already accepted to participate, like for example: Lill Lindfors and Ketil Bjørnstad, Åge Aleksandersen and Sambandet, Ida Maria and not least Studio Sokrates from Norway's Television NRK just to mention some. New this year is the possibility to order tickets at the booking office Billettluka at www.billettluka.no/hamsundagene . Please visit Billettluka and the website of the Hamsun-festival at www.knuthamsun.no for updates. Exiting days are ahead!
Source: Marianne Apold 13.03.2008

Hunger in Copenhagen:
On February 22nd the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen stages the world first performance of the play Hunger by Jon Fosse based on Knut Hamsun's novel. Leading actor is Janus Nabil Bakrawi together with Stig Hoffmeyer, Signe Egholm Olsen and Søren Graversen. After the performances in February and March, the play will be on tour through several danish cities. Read more on the website of the Royal Theatre: www.kglteater.dk
27.01.2008

150. jubilee 2009:
The theatre Riksteatret has taken up the responsibility for 4 performances during the main celebrations of the jubilee. Director Catrine Telle has been selected as artistic director and she is now gathering ideas and selecting stages in the 4 municipalities.
Source: Karin Engh / Grimstad Adressetidende 24.01.2008

150. jubilee 2009:
Hard work is now demanded, preparing the celebrations of the big Hamsun jubilee next year to commemorate his 150. birthday. Norway's National Library and the 4 "Hamsun-cities" Hamarøy, Lom, Grimstad and Oslo will be offering a broad range of exiting events throughout the year. The celebrations start in February in Oslo with events under the motto "Hunger". Then Hamarøy and Lom follow in the course of the summer with the themes "Vagabonds" and "Growth of the Soil", respectively. The national celebration will be in Hamarøy on Knut Hamsun's birthday August 4th together with the inauguration of the national Hamsun-Centre in Hamarøy. The year will then be complete with the events in Grimstad from 17.-20. September with the theme "On overgrown Paths".
Source: Karin Engh / Grimstad Adressetidende 24.01.2008

150. jubilee 2009:
The Opera in Kristiansund is planning an opera based on Knut Hamsun's stay in Kristiansund in 1891-1892. Composer is Knut Anders Westad and the libretto will be written by the author Edvard Hoem. The working title is "Unge Hamsun" (Young Hamsun) and the opera will have it's first performance at the opera festival in Kristiansund in February 2009.
Source: Tidens Krav 17.01.2008

Photo: Operaen i Kristiansund

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