Ebba Haslund
Encyclopedia
Ebba Margareta Haslund Halvorsen (12 August 1917 – 10 July 2009) was a Norwegian novelist, writer of short stories
, playwright
, essayist, children's writer, literary critic, radio speaker and politician.
. She graduated from the University of Oslo
in 1941 with the cand.philol. degree. In 1940 she married businessman Sverre Fjeld Halvorsen (1910-2005). Her husband was imprisoned at Grini and in Poland during World War II
, but they remained married until his death. Haslund lived at Blommenholm
; she died aged 91 in Oslo
.
Haslund has written several audio plays for radio. Her debut as playwright was the audio play Himmelsk dilemma (1952). Her play Kjære Nils (1956) was awarded a prize for "best audio play for children". She was a board member of the Writers' Guild of Norway
from 1961 to 1967, and vice chair from 1967 to 1974.
She has written several books for children and youth, such as Frøken Askeladd (1953), Barskinger på Brånåsen (1960), and Mor streiker (1981). A selection of her essays is found in the collections Født til klovn (1977), Kvinner, fins de? (1980) and Hønesvar til hanefar (1983). She has also written three memoir books, Som plommen i egget (1987), Med vingehest i manesjen (1989) and Ikke naken, ikke kledd (1992).
She worked as a literary critic for Aftenposten
from 1970 to 1990, and editor-in-chief of the magazine Ordet from 1966 to 1967. She was a columnist in several newspapers, including Klassekampen
and Budstikka
.
from 1955 to 1957, and vice chairman from 1964 to 1967. She was a board member of Forfatterforeningen av 1952—a breakaway faction of the Norwegian Authors' Union
which lasted from 1952 to 1966—from 1961 to 1963 and chaired the Norwegian Writers for Children
from 1965 to 1970. In the Norwegian Authors' Union she was a board member from 1966 to 1970, vice chairman from 1970 to 1971 and chairman from 1971 to 1975. She received honorary membership in the Norwegian Authors' Union in 1975, and in the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights in 1995. For the rest of her life she was the only honorary member of the Association for Women's Rights. She was a member of the board of Riksteateret from 1969 to 1977, a member of the Norwegian Language Council
from 1976 to 1980 and a deputy member of the Arts Council Norway from 1977 to 1980. She was also a board member of Klassekampen.
during the term 1958–1961 and from Akershus
during the term 1961–1965. She took John Lyng
's seat while he served as Prime Minister
between August and September 1963. Despite her affiliation to the Conservative Party of Norway
at that time, she was called "Red Ebba" during her time in the Norwegian Authors' Union. She was inspired by the radical feminism
of the 1960s and 1970s, especially by the activity of Norwegian researcher and socialist politician Berit Ås
. In a 2007 interview Haslund stated that she does not vote Conservative, but Liberal.
in 1966 for the novel Det trange hjerte, and the Riksmål Society Literature Prize
for Syndebukkens krets in 1968. She received the Ossietzky Award in 2006 and the Fritt Ord Honorary Award in 2007.
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, essayist, children's writer, literary critic, radio speaker and politician.
Early and personal life
Haslund was born in Seattle, Washington as the daughter of Frantz Philip Haslund (1883–1974) and Ebba Margareta Gillblad (1890–1957). Haslund has described her father as an "adventurer", and they travelled regularly during her early life. She became a student in 1935, and studied languages in both England, Germany and France before World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She graduated from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1941 with the cand.philol. degree. In 1940 she married businessman Sverre Fjeld Halvorsen (1910-2005). Her husband was imprisoned at Grini and in Poland during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but they remained married until his death. Haslund lived at Blommenholm
Blommenholm
Blommenholm is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 2,936.It is served by the train station Blommenholm on the Drammen Line....
; she died aged 91 in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
Literary career
Haslund made her literary debut in 1945 with the short story collection Også vi –. Next year came her first novel, Siste halvår, about the adolescence of young girls. The independent continuation Det hendte ingenting (1948) was virtually ignored by the press at the time, but has later been regarded as one of her most important books. The novel depicts a possible lesbian dream. It was translated into English in 1987, with the title Nothing Happened. Hafslund's literary breakthrough was proclaimed with the emerging of Middag hos Molla (1951), and again with her next novel, Krise i august (1954).Haslund has written several audio plays for radio. Her debut as playwright was the audio play Himmelsk dilemma (1952). Her play Kjære Nils (1956) was awarded a prize for "best audio play for children". She was a board member of the Writers' Guild of Norway
Writers' Guild of Norway
The Writers' Guild of Norway is an association of Norwegian dramatists and playwrights. It was established in 1938, to protect Norwegian playwrights' professional and economic interests. In 2007 the association had around 250 members....
from 1961 to 1967, and vice chair from 1967 to 1974.
She has written several books for children and youth, such as Frøken Askeladd (1953), Barskinger på Brånåsen (1960), and Mor streiker (1981). A selection of her essays is found in the collections Født til klovn (1977), Kvinner, fins de? (1980) and Hønesvar til hanefar (1983). She has also written three memoir books, Som plommen i egget (1987), Med vingehest i manesjen (1989) and Ikke naken, ikke kledd (1992).
She worked as a literary critic for Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
from 1970 to 1990, and editor-in-chief of the magazine Ordet from 1966 to 1967. She was a columnist in several newspapers, including Klassekampen
Klassekampen
Klassekampen is a Norwegian daily newspaper, which styles itself as "the daily left-wing newspaper".Klassekampen was founded in 1969 with a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist platform. Until recently, it was owned by The Workers' Communist Party...
and Budstikka
Budstikka
Budstikka, prior to 2004 known as Asker og Bærum Budstikke, is a daily local newspaper published out of Billingstad in Asker, Norway. It covers the municipalities of Asker and Bærum, and is the only newspaper issued in the area.-History:...
.
Organisational work
Haslund was board member of the Norwegian branch of International PENInternational PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
from 1955 to 1957, and vice chairman from 1964 to 1967. She was a board member of Forfatterforeningen av 1952—a breakaway faction of the Norwegian Authors' Union
Norwegian Authors' Union
The Norwegian Authors' Union is an association of Norwegian authors. It was established in 1893 to promote Norwegian literature and protect Norwegian authors' professional and economic interests. DnF also works in solidarity with persecuted writers internationally.As of 2004 the association had...
which lasted from 1952 to 1966—from 1961 to 1963 and chaired the Norwegian Writers for Children
Norwegian Writers for Children
The Norwegian Writers for Children was founded in 1947. The association, composed of authors who write fiction for children and young people, promotes the interests of writers of books for children and young people and encourages literature for children and young people. NBU has almost 300 members....
from 1965 to 1970. In the Norwegian Authors' Union she was a board member from 1966 to 1970, vice chairman from 1970 to 1971 and chairman from 1971 to 1975. She received honorary membership in the Norwegian Authors' Union in 1975, and in the Norwegian Association for Women's Rights in 1995. For the rest of her life she was the only honorary member of the Association for Women's Rights. She was a member of the board of Riksteateret from 1969 to 1977, a member of the Norwegian Language Council
Norwegian Language Council
The Norwegian Language Council was the regulation authority for the Norwegian language. It has been superseded by The Language Council of Norway .The council had 38 members, and created lists of acceptable word forms...
from 1976 to 1980 and a deputy member of the Arts Council Norway from 1977 to 1980. She was also a board member of Klassekampen.
Politician
Haslund served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
during the term 1958–1961 and from Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
during the term 1961–1965. She took John Lyng
John Lyng
was a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 28 August to 25 September 1963 in a coalition government consisting of the Conservative, Centre, Christian Democratic, and Liberal parties.He was originally a member of the Liberal Left Party, heading the...
's seat while he served as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
between August and September 1963. Despite her affiliation to the Conservative Party of Norway
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
at that time, she was called "Red Ebba" during her time in the Norwegian Authors' Union. She was inspired by the radical feminism
Radical feminism
Radical feminism is a current theoretical perspective within feminism that focuses on the theory of patriarchy as a system of power that organizes society into a complex of relationships based on an assumption that "male supremacy" oppresses women...
of the 1960s and 1970s, especially by the activity of Norwegian researcher and socialist politician Berit Ås
Berit Ås
Berit Ås is a Norwegian politician, professor of social psychology, and feminist. She was the first leader of the Socialist Left Party and served as a Member of Parliament 1973–1977. She was also a deputy member of parliament 1969–1973 and 1977–1981...
. In a 2007 interview Haslund stated that she does not vote Conservative, but Liberal.
Awards
Ebba Haslund was awarded the Norwegian Booksellers' PrizeNorwegian Booksellers' Prize
The Norwegian Booksellers' Prize is a literature prize was awarded by the Norwegian Booksellers Association. It was initiated in 1948, then did not return until 1961...
in 1966 for the novel Det trange hjerte, and the Riksmål Society Literature Prize
Riksmål Society Literature Prize
The Riksmål Society Literature Prize is awarded annually by the Riksmålsforbundet for the outstanding publication in riksmål...
for Syndebukkens krets in 1968. She received the Ossietzky Award in 2006 and the Fritt Ord Honorary Award in 2007.