Harald Beyer
Encyclopedia
Carl Harald Beyer was a Norwegian literary historian and lecturer, literary critic, textbook writer and professor of European literature
at the University of Bergen
.
, as a son of bookseller Freydar Dekke Høegh von Krogh Beyer (1864–1933) and his German-born wife Flora Charlotte Müller (1862–1912). He was grandson of bookbinder Fredrik Beyer (1827–1903). He married Eidis Johannessen in 1919, and was the father of literary historian Edvard Beyer
.
in 1910, and took his final university degree in 1917, in language history. He received Hartvig Lassen
's gold medal for his dissertation Henrik Wergeland og Henrich Steffens in 1919. He became dr.philos. in 1924, with the thesis Søren Kierkegaard og Norge. He was a teacher in secondary school for 34 years, in Haugesund
from 1917 and later at Bergen Cathedral School from 1922, except for one year at the University of Hamburg
from 1930 to 1931. During his period as a teacher, he was a literary critic for the newspaper Bergens Tidende
, amassing about 1600 articles. Selections of his articles were issued in Fra Holberg til Hamsun. Skrevet og talt (1934), and in the posthumous memorial Norsk og fremmed. Artikler i utvalg (1961). He wrote several books, including Norwegische Literatur (1927), Norsk litteraturhistorie til orientering og selvstudium (1933) and Henrik Wergeland. Thi Frihed er Himmelens Sag (1946). He also held radio lectures for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.
He was appointed professor in European literature
at the recently established (1948) University of Bergen
in 1951. His Norsk litteraturhistorie from 1952 was the most used textbook in its field at Norwegian universities between the 1950s and the mid 1990s. It was also published in the United States. His work Nietzsche og Norden (two volumes) came in 1958 and 1959.
Beyer was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1946. In Bergen he was chair
of Den Nationale Scene
and praeces in the Selskapet til Videnskapenes Fremme. He was also a deputy member of the Norwegian Language Council
, representing Riksmål writers. He died in July 1960 in Bergen
. A festschrift
planned for his seventieth birthday was instead released as a memorial book, titled Norsk og fremmed.
European literature
European literature refers to the literature of Europe.European literature includes literature in many languages; among the most important of the modern written works are those in English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Polish, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Czech and Russian and works by the...
at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
.
Early and personal life
Beyer was born in BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, as a son of bookseller Freydar Dekke Høegh von Krogh Beyer (1864–1933) and his German-born wife Flora Charlotte Müller (1862–1912). He was grandson of bookbinder Fredrik Beyer (1827–1903). He married Eidis Johannessen in 1919, and was the father of literary historian Edvard Beyer
Edvard Beyer
Edvard Freydar Beyer was a Norwegian literary historian, literary critic, and professor at the University of Oslo from 1958 to 1990.-Early and personal life:...
.
Career
Beyer finished his secondary education at Bergen Cathedral SchoolBergen katedralskole
Bergen katedralskole is an upper secondary school in Bergen, Norway...
in 1910, and took his final university degree in 1917, in language history. He received Hartvig Lassen
Hartvig Lassen
Hartvig Marcus Lassen was a Norwegian editor and literary historian.-Personal life:He was born in Bergen as a son of police chief and burgomaster Albert Lassen and his wife Abigael Vogt Monrad . He was a nephew of Lars Monrad and Christian Lassen...
's gold medal for his dissertation Henrik Wergeland og Henrich Steffens in 1919. He became dr.philos. in 1924, with the thesis Søren Kierkegaard og Norge. He was a teacher in secondary school for 34 years, in Haugesund
Haugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
from 1917 and later at Bergen Cathedral School from 1922, except for one year at the University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
from 1930 to 1931. During his period as a teacher, he was a literary critic for the newspaper Bergens Tidende
Bergens Tidende
Bergens Tidende is Norway's fourth largest newspaper and largest newspaper outside Oslo, with a circulation of about 87,000 copies . Founded in 1868, it is a Norwegian-language newspaper published daily in Bergen. It reaches approximately 260,000 readers every day , mainly in the counties of...
, amassing about 1600 articles. Selections of his articles were issued in Fra Holberg til Hamsun. Skrevet og talt (1934), and in the posthumous memorial Norsk og fremmed. Artikler i utvalg (1961). He wrote several books, including Norwegische Literatur (1927), Norsk litteraturhistorie til orientering og selvstudium (1933) and Henrik Wergeland. Thi Frihed er Himmelens Sag (1946). He also held radio lectures for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.
He was appointed professor in European literature
European literature
European literature refers to the literature of Europe.European literature includes literature in many languages; among the most important of the modern written works are those in English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Polish, German, Italian, Modern Greek, Czech and Russian and works by the...
at the recently established (1948) University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
in 1951. His Norsk litteraturhistorie from 1952 was the most used textbook in its field at Norwegian universities between the 1950s and the mid 1990s. It was also published in the United States. His work Nietzsche og Norden (two volumes) came in 1958 and 1959.
Beyer was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1946. In Bergen he was chair
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene
Den Nationale Scene is the largest theatre in Bergen, Norway. Den Nationale Scene is also one of the oldest permanent theatre in Norway.-History:...
and praeces in the Selskapet til Videnskapenes Fremme. He was also a deputy 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...
, representing Riksmål writers. He died in July 1960 in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
. A festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
planned for his seventieth birthday was instead released as a memorial book, titled Norsk og fremmed.