Gabriel Scott
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Scott was a Norwegian poet, novelist, playwright and children's writer.
in Scotland
as the son of sailors' priest Svend Holst Jensen and his wife writer and composer Caroline Mathilde Schytte
. The name Scott was originally a first name, and he was named after both Scotland and the writer Walter Scott
. He moved to Norway when he was seven years old, his father being a parish priest in Høvåg
. In 1901, Scott married Ellen Johansen (1871–1914), but this marriage was dissolved in 1912. In 1915, he married secondly Dagmar Marie Jensen, but in 1918 this marriage also ended in divorce. Finally, in 1918, he married Birgit Gabrielsen (1897–1981). He died in Arendal
in 1958.
, 1940. In 1905, he wrote the comedy Himmeluret.
His literary breakthrough was the novel Jernbyrden (1915), which was well received by the critics. His most famous book is the novel Kilden eller Brevet om fiskeren Markus ('The Source, or the Letter about Mark the Fisherman'), 1918, a story about the fisherman Mark living a simple life and presenting simple thoughts. In his book Det gyldne Evangelium ('The Golden Gospel'), 1921, the main characters are Saint Peter
and Our Lord, who are seen wandering and meeting people. His books on the Norwegian travelling people
, Fant (1928) and Josefa (1930) became popular, and in 1937 Fant was made into a film by Tancred Ibsen. The novel De vergeløse ('The Defenseless'), about a child taken from its mother by the authorities, was made into a film by Leif Sinding
in 1939.
Scott wrote several books for children, including Sølvfaks som reiste ut i den vide verden ('Sølvfaks Who Went out into the Wide World'), 1912, which has since gone into many editions, and Hellige tre konger ('We Three Kings'), 1900.
Scott was awarded the Gyldendal's Endowment
in 1936.
During the 1930s, he was fundamentally pro-German, publishing articles praising both Vidkun Quisling
's National Gathering and Hitler
's Germany
. This stance was much debated, before, during and after the Second World War. However, before the beginning of the war he had begun to distance himself from the German dictatorship, and during the war he wrote patriotic poetry.
Scott and Vilhelm Krag are now considered southern Norway's most important poets.
Personal life
Gabriel Scott Jensen was born in LeithLeith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
as the son of sailors' priest Svend Holst Jensen and his wife writer and composer Caroline Mathilde Schytte
Caroline Schytte Jensen
Caroline Mathilde Schytte Jensen was a Norwegian writer and composer.-Biography:Caroline Mathilde Schytte was born in Fredrikshald , in Østfold County, Norway. Her parents were Hans Holst Schytte and Anne Marie Faye...
. The name Scott was originally a first name, and he was named after both Scotland and the writer Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
. He moved to Norway when he was seven years old, his father being a parish priest in Høvåg
Høvåg
Høvåg is a village and former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Lillesand in the Sørlandet region....
. In 1901, Scott married Ellen Johansen (1871–1914), but this marriage was dissolved in 1912. In 1915, he married secondly Dagmar Marie Jensen, but in 1918 this marriage also ended in divorce. Finally, in 1918, he married Birgit Gabrielsen (1897–1981). He died in Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
in 1958.
Career
Scott made his literary debut in 1894 with the poetry collection Digte ('Poems'), and followed up with a second collection, Dag ('Day') in 1895. His 1904 novel Tante Pose ('Aunt Bag') was the basis of the film Tante PoseTante Pose (film)
Tante Pose is a 1940 Norwegian film, directed by Leif Sinding, based on the book by Norwegian author Gabriel Scott.It stars a memorable Henny Skjønberg in the title role.-Synopsis:The Christmas preparations are under way at the wealthy Bal family farm...
, 1940. In 1905, he wrote the comedy Himmeluret.
His literary breakthrough was the novel Jernbyrden (1915), which was well received by the critics. His most famous book is the novel Kilden eller Brevet om fiskeren Markus ('The Source, or the Letter about Mark the Fisherman'), 1918, a story about the fisherman Mark living a simple life and presenting simple thoughts. In his book Det gyldne Evangelium ('The Golden Gospel'), 1921, the main characters are Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and Our Lord, who are seen wandering and meeting people. His books on the Norwegian travelling people
Indigenous Norwegian Travellers
The indigenous Norwegian Travellers are an ethnic minority group in Norway. They are a wandering people who once travelled by foot, with horse-drawn carts and with boats along the southern and southwestern coastline of Norway.-Names for the group:...
, Fant (1928) and Josefa (1930) became popular, and in 1937 Fant was made into a film by Tancred Ibsen. The novel De vergeløse ('The Defenseless'), about a child taken from its mother by the authorities, was made into a film by Leif Sinding
Leif Sinding
Leif Sinding was a Norwegian journalist and film director.He worked for the newspapers Verdens Gang, Aftenposten and Morgenbladet. Among his silent films are Himmeluret from 1925, based on Gabriel Scott's comedy, and Fjeldeventyret from 1926...
in 1939.
Scott wrote several books for children, including Sølvfaks som reiste ut i den vide verden ('Sølvfaks Who Went out into the Wide World'), 1912, which has since gone into many editions, and Hellige tre konger ('We Three Kings'), 1900.
Scott was awarded the Gyldendal's Endowment
Gyldendal's Endowment
Gyldendal's Endowment was a literature prize which was awarded in the period 1934–1995 by the Norwegian publisher Gyldendal Norsk Forlag. The prize was awarded to significant authors, regardless of which publisher the author was associated with...
in 1936.
During the 1930s, he was fundamentally pro-German, publishing articles praising both Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
's National Gathering and Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. This stance was much debated, before, during and after the Second World War. However, before the beginning of the war he had begun to distance himself from the German dictatorship, and during the war he wrote patriotic poetry.
Scott and Vilhelm Krag are now considered southern Norway's most important poets.