Fra Kristiania-Bohêmen
Encyclopedia
Fra Kristiania-Bohêmen is a novel from 1885 by Norwegian writer Hans Jæger
. The book was confiscated shortly after its publication, and Jæger was sentenced to prison and lost his position as stenographer at the Parliament.
, and deals with the everyday life of two friends, "Herman Ek" and "candidate Jarmann". They live in lodgings and spend their days drinking in cafés, discussing philosophy, literature and society reforms. "Jarmann" ends his life by committing suicide, shooting himself after spending his last night with a prostitute. The novel is a roman à clef
, as the characters are easily recognizable as real people: "Ek" is Jæger himself, and "Jarmann" also has a corresponding real person.
. He also lost his position as a stenographer at the Parliament of Norway. Jæger was defended in court by barrister Ludvig Meyer
. The Supreme Court
decision became the subject of a fierce debate. Liberal and conservative newspapers mostly supported the government's actions and the court decision, while intellectuals raised their voices in support of freedom of speech. The confiscation of Kristiania-Bohêmen sparked a debate on freedom of press in 1886 in the literary, cultural and political magazine Nyt Tidsskrift
. The novel gave its name to a literary movement in Norway in the 1880s (in ), which included, in addition to Jæger, Christian Krohg
, Gunnar Heiberg
, Ludvig Meyer
, Arne Garborg
and others. Their "program" was based on naturalism, and also included elements of socialism and anarchism. Discussions on morals and sexuality had started early in the 1880s, and the debate became even more heated after the confiscation of Jæger's book in 1885, of Krohg's novel Albertine
in 1886, and the imprisonment of Jæger.
Hans Jæger
Hans Henrik Jæger was a Norwegian writer, philosopher and anarchist political activist who was part of the Oslo based bohemian group Kristianiabohêmen. He was prosecuted for his book Fra Kristiania-bohêmen and convicted to 60 days' imprisonment in a supreme court ruling in 1886...
. The book was confiscated shortly after its publication, and Jæger was sentenced to prison and lost his position as stenographer at the Parliament.
Plot
The novel is set in ChristianiaOslo
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...
, and deals with the everyday life of two friends, "Herman Ek" and "candidate Jarmann". They live in lodgings and spend their days drinking in cafés, discussing philosophy, literature and society reforms. "Jarmann" ends his life by committing suicide, shooting himself after spending his last night with a prostitute. The novel is a roman à clef
Roman à clef
Roman à clef or roman à clé , French for "novel with a key", is a phrase used to describe a novel about real life, overlaid with a façade of fiction. The fictitious names in the novel represent real people, and the "key" is the relationship between the nonfiction and the fiction...
, as the characters are easily recognizable as real people: "Ek" is Jæger himself, and "Jarmann" also has a corresponding real person.
Confiscation and trial
The book was immediately banned by the Ministry of Justice, and the police managed to confiscate most of the printed copies shortly after its publication. Jæger was sentenced to sixty days imprisonment and a fine of , for infringement of modesty and public morals, and for blasphemyBlasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
. He also lost his position as a stenographer at the Parliament of Norway. Jæger was defended in court by barrister Ludvig Meyer
Ludvig Meyer
Ludvig Meyer was a Norwegian barrister, newspaper editor and politician. He belonged to the Norwegian Labour Party 1891 to 1903, and was both party leader,party secretary as well as editor of the party organ Social-Demokraten for a period...
. The Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Norway
The Supreme Court of Norway was established in 1815 on the basis of the Constitution of Norway's §88, prescribing an independent judiciary. It is located in Oslo and is Norway's highest court...
decision became the subject of a fierce debate. Liberal and conservative newspapers mostly supported the government's actions and the court decision, while intellectuals raised their voices in support of freedom of speech. The confiscation of Kristiania-Bohêmen sparked a debate on freedom of press in 1886 in the literary, cultural and political magazine Nyt Tidsskrift
Nyt Tidsskrift
Nyt Tidsskrift is a former Norwegian literary, cultural and political magazine issued from 1882 to 1887, and with a second series from 1892 to 1895. The magazine had contributions from severeal of the leading intellectuals of the time, including later Nobel Literature Prize laureate Bjørnstjerne...
. The novel gave its name to a literary movement in Norway in the 1880s (in ), which included, in addition to Jæger, Christian Krohg
Christian Krohg
Christian Krohg , was a Norwegian naturalist painter, illustrator, author and journalist.-Life and career:...
, Gunnar Heiberg
Gunnar Heiberg
Gunnar Edvard Rode Heiberg was a Norwegian poet, playwright, journalist and theatre critic.-Personal life:...
, Ludvig Meyer
Ludvig Meyer
Ludvig Meyer was a Norwegian barrister, newspaper editor and politician. He belonged to the Norwegian Labour Party 1891 to 1903, and was both party leader,party secretary as well as editor of the party organ Social-Demokraten for a period...
, Arne Garborg
Arne Garborg
Arne Garborg, born Aadne Eivindsson Garborg was a Norwegian writer.Garborg championed the use of Landsmål , as a literary language; he translated the Odyssey into it...
and others. Their "program" was based on naturalism, and also included elements of socialism and anarchism. Discussions on morals and sexuality had started early in the 1880s, and the debate became even more heated after the confiscation of Jæger's book in 1885, of Krohg's novel Albertine
Albertine (1886 novel)
Albertine is a novel written in 1886 by Norwegian painter and writer Christian Krohg.The novel is set in Norway's capital, Christiania, and deals with the life of the unmarried seamstress Albertine, who is eventually forced into prostitution due to the social system of the time. The book was...
in 1886, and the imprisonment of Jæger.