Alf Prøysen
Encyclopedia
Alf Prøysen was a writer and musician
from Norway. He was born at Rudshøgda in Ringsaker
. Prøysen was one of the most important Norwegian cultural personalities in the second half of the twentieth century, and he made significant contributions to literature
, music
, TV and radio
.
His childhood was typical for those of the husmann class; the landless lower class of rural Norway. This is reflected in his songs and short stories, where he draws realistic, satirical and harsh pictures of class relations and everyday life in rural Norway.
Though somewhat of an underdog and an outsider, Prøysen made significant contributions to many artistic fields: children's radio, short stories, theater and music. His only novel Trost i taklampa was a great success both as a book and as a play, depicting the urbanization of 1950s Norway, and the effect this had on rural life.
His work includes the stories about Mrs. Pepperpot
, a tiny lady who never knows when she is going to shrink to the size of a teaspoon. In the Norwegian original, she is known as "Teskjekjerringa"; the teaspoon lady.
As the youngest of four children, Prøysen was very close to his mother Julie. He married Else Storhaug in 1948 and together they had two children, a daughter, Elin Julie and a son, Alf Ketil. Alf Prøysen died of cancer on 23 November 1970, aged 56.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
from Norway. He was born at Rudshøgda in Ringsaker
Ringsaker
is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Brumunddal.The municipality of Ringsaker was established on 1 January 1838...
. Prøysen was one of the most important Norwegian cultural personalities in the second half of the twentieth century, and he made significant contributions to literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, TV and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
.
His childhood was typical for those of the husmann class; the landless lower class of rural Norway. This is reflected in his songs and short stories, where he draws realistic, satirical and harsh pictures of class relations and everyday life in rural Norway.
Though somewhat of an underdog and an outsider, Prøysen made significant contributions to many artistic fields: children's radio, short stories, theater and music. His only novel Trost i taklampa was a great success both as a book and as a play, depicting the urbanization of 1950s Norway, and the effect this had on rural life.
His work includes the stories about Mrs. Pepperpot
Mrs. Pepperpot
Mrs. Pepperpot is a fictional character in a series of children's books created by the Norwegian author Alf Prøysen.The first book in the series was printed in 1956. The main character, Mrs. Pepperpot, is a little old lady who lives in a cottage in the countryside together with her husband, Mr....
, a tiny lady who never knows when she is going to shrink to the size of a teaspoon. In the Norwegian original, she is known as "Teskjekjerringa"; the teaspoon lady.
As the youngest of four children, Prøysen was very close to his mother Julie. He married Else Storhaug in 1948 and together they had two children, a daughter, Elin Julie and a son, Alf Ketil. Alf Prøysen died of cancer on 23 November 1970, aged 56.