Karin Bang
Encyclopedia
Karin Bang is a Norwegian poet, novelist, children's writer and crime writer.
as the daughter of industrial manager Alf Bang and Dagmar Kathinka Hansen. She grew up in an isolated and protected environment in Oslo, while the summers were spent at the family's summer house in Veierland
, Vestfold
, where she was influenced from old coastal culture. After examen artium
in 1947 she worked five years as a secretary in Oslo, while she wrote her first books. She was married to writer Aasmund Brynildsen
from 1952 until his death in 1974, and cohabited with the writer Sigbjørn Hølmebakk
from 1979 until he died in 1981.
from the early 1900s. Her double novel Jutøy, consisting of Havet ble blod (1978) and Jag etter vind (1981), are historical novels from the whaling
pioneer time in Vestfold
between 1809 and 1905. The story takes place at the fictitious island Jutøy and among whalers at the polar sea, and is also picturing whaling pioneer Svend Foyn
.
Bang is a passionate collector of ancient dolls, and she edited the anthology Har dukkene sjel? (1985), where she contributed with an article on the cultural history of dolls. She has written two children's books, Lotte på loftet (1992) and Katten på Sjørøverøya (1994). She has also written two crime novels, Mord i måneskinn (1956) and Seilas med døden (1960).
Bang has received several literary prizes, including the Riksmål Society Literature Prize
in 1966, the Aschehoug Prize
in 1976, and the Gyldendal's Endowment
in 1983 (shared with Terje Johanssen
). She was a member of the Norwegian Authors' Union
's literary council for several periods.
Early and personal life
Bang was born in 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...
as the daughter of industrial manager Alf Bang and Dagmar Kathinka Hansen. She grew up in an isolated and protected environment in Oslo, while the summers were spent at the family's summer house in Veierland
Veierland
Veierland is a populated, carfree island in Nøtterøy municipality, Norway. A ferry service operated by Jutøya AS connects the island with the nearby, larger island of Nøtterøy.-The name:...
, Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
, where she was influenced from old coastal culture. After examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1947 she worked five years as a secretary in Oslo, while she wrote her first books. She was married to writer Aasmund Brynildsen
Aasmund Brynildsen
Aasmund Brynildsen was a Norwegian essayist, biographer, magazine editor and publishing house consultant.He was born at Tjøme. He married writer Karin Bang in 1952....
from 1952 until his death in 1974, and cohabited with the writer Sigbjørn Hølmebakk
Sigbjørn Hølmebakk
Sigbjørn Hølmebakk was an Norwegian author.He was brother of publisher and author Gordon Hølmebakk. Hølmebakk was active in the popular movement against atomic weapons in Norway and one of the initiators of the Sosialistisk Folkeparti...
from 1979 until he died in 1981.
Literary career
Bang made her literary debut in 1949 with two light reading novels, while the novel Glemte vinger from 1951 is regarded as her debut as a serious writer. Other novels were Fjerne seil (1962) and Blåst om babord–! (1964). Her novel Blues (1968) from the drug scene was the basis for a film from 1969, called Psychedelica Blues. Her trilogy Bedremannsbarn (1973), Borgersinn (1974) and Nye veier (1979) is a family chronicleFamily saga
The family saga is a genre of literature which chronicles the lives and doings of a family or a number of related or interconnected families over a period of time...
from the early 1900s. Her double novel Jutøy, consisting of Havet ble blod (1978) and Jag etter vind (1981), are historical novels from the whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
pioneer time in Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
between 1809 and 1905. The story takes place at the fictitious island Jutøy and among whalers at the polar sea, and is also picturing whaling pioneer Svend Foyn
Svend Foyn
Svend Foyn was a Norwegian whaling and shipping magnate who pioneered revolutionary methods for hunting and processing whales. Svend Foyn introduced the modern harpoon gun and brought whaling into a modern age....
.
Bang is a passionate collector of ancient dolls, and she edited the anthology Har dukkene sjel? (1985), where she contributed with an article on the cultural history of dolls. She has written two children's books, Lotte på loftet (1992) and Katten på Sjørøverøya (1994). She has also written two crime novels, Mord i måneskinn (1956) and Seilas med døden (1960).
Bang has received several literary prizes, including 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...
in 1966, the Aschehoug Prize
Aschehoug Prize
The Aschehoug Prize is published annually by the Norwegian publishing house Aschehoug. The Aschehoug Prize is awarded Norwegian authors on the basis of the merit of a recent publication. It is awarded on merit, irrespective of the publisher, base on a binding recommendation from the Norwegian...
in 1976, and 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 1983 (shared with Terje Johanssen
Terje Johanssen
Terje Johanssen was a Norwegian poet. He made his literary debut in 1975 with the poetry collection Vegen å gå. He was awarded the Gyldendal's Endowment in 1983, shared with Karin Bang.-References:...
). She was a member 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...
's literary council for several periods.