Ronald Fangen
Encyclopedia
Ronald Fangen was a Norwegian novelist, essayist, playwright, psalmist, journalist and literary critic. He was born in Kragerø
, and perished in a plane accident in 1946.
Fangen was a journalist in the newspaper Verdens Gang
from 1913. He made his literary debut in 1915 with the novel De svake. Fangen was a member of the Oxford Group
from 1934 and issued several religious publications in his later years.
In October 1934, Fangen took part in an Oxford Group house party, at the invitation of Carl Hambro President of the Norwegian Parliament, and a leading figure in the League of Nations. Hambro invited 120 of his friends to meet Buchman and thirty companions at the Tourist Hotel at Høsbjør. Garth Lean, Buchman’s biographer writes that: ‘Fangen, the novelist, brought two bottles of whisky and a crate of books, expecting boredom. He did not find time to open either. His change was immediately visible and long remembered. The lyric poet Alt Larsen, even twenty years later, spoke of the “hopeless naivety” of the Group's philosophy as compared with his own anthroposophy. It had however completely transformed Fangen, who before that, in his opinion, had been the most unpleasant man in Norway.’ He received Gyldendal's Endowment
in 1940.
Fangen was the first Norwegian writer to be arrested by the German occupants of Norway
, in November 1940, due to an essay published in the periodical Kirke og Kultur. Fangen was instrumental in the formation of the newspaper Vårt Land
, which was secretly planned and founded during the occupation in 1944, but first issued in August 1945.
Among biographers who have written about Fangen and his writings are Carl Fredrik Engelstad
, Egil Yngvar Elseth, Reidar Huseby and Jan Inge Sørbø
.
Kragerø
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø....
, and perished in a plane accident in 1946.
Fangen was a journalist in the newspaper Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang (1868-1923 newspaper)
Verdens Gang is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1868 to 1923.It was established as a weekly magazine in 1868, later expanded to three issues a week, and was issued daily from 1885. It was the most widespread political newspaper in Norway for many years, and had considerable...
from 1913. He made his literary debut in 1915 with the novel De svake. Fangen was a member of the Oxford Group
Oxford Group
The Oxford Group was a Christian movement that had a following in Europe, China, Africa, Australia, Scandinavia and America in the 1920s and 30s. It was initiated by an American Lutheran pastor, Frank Buchman, who was of Swiss descent...
from 1934 and issued several religious publications in his later years.
In October 1934, Fangen took part in an Oxford Group house party, at the invitation of Carl Hambro President of the Norwegian Parliament, and a leading figure in the League of Nations. Hambro invited 120 of his friends to meet Buchman and thirty companions at the Tourist Hotel at Høsbjør. Garth Lean, Buchman’s biographer writes that: ‘Fangen, the novelist, brought two bottles of whisky and a crate of books, expecting boredom. He did not find time to open either. His change was immediately visible and long remembered. The lyric poet Alt Larsen, even twenty years later, spoke of the “hopeless naivety” of the Group's philosophy as compared with his own anthroposophy. It had however completely transformed Fangen, who before that, in his opinion, had been the most unpleasant man in Norway.’ He received 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 1940.
Fangen was the first Norwegian writer to be arrested by the German occupants of Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, in November 1940, due to an essay published in the periodical Kirke og Kultur. Fangen was instrumental in the formation of the newspaper Vårt Land
Vårt Land (Norwegian newspaper)
Vårt Land is a daily newspaper published in Oslo. It has a nationwide target audience. Its average daily circulation in 2007 was 27.146, it was Norway's 23rd largest newspaper...
, which was secretly planned and founded during the occupation in 1944, but first issued in August 1945.
Among biographers who have written about Fangen and his writings are Carl Fredrik Engelstad
Carl Fredrik Engelstad
Carl Johan Fredrik Engelstad was a Norwegian writer, playwright, journalist, translator and theatre director.-Personal life:...
, Egil Yngvar Elseth, Reidar Huseby and Jan Inge Sørbø
Jan Inge Sørbø
Jan Inge Sørbø is a Norwegian philologist, author and poet.He was born in Bru, and took the cand.philol. degree in the history of literature at the University of Bergen in 1982. He debuted as a poet in 1986, and has also written novels...
.
Selected bibliography
- De svake (1915; novel)
- Slægt føder slægt (1916; novel)
- Streiftog i digtning og tænkning (1919; essays)
- Syndefald (1920; play)
- Fienden (1922; play)
- Duel (1932; novel)
- Dagen og veien (1934; essays)
- "Both are my Cousins" (No date)
- "Welterneuerung, aber wie? Meine Begegnung mit der Oxford – Gruppenbewegung" (1936, essay)
- "Une révolution dans la chrétienté" (1937, essay)
- "Dass Sie ALLE EINES seien Die Ökumenische Botschaft der Gruppenbewegung" (1938, essay)
- Borgerfesten (1939; novel)
- En lysets engel (1945; novel)
- I nazistenes fengsel (1975; notes from prison, posthumously)
Biographies
- Carl Fredrik EngelstadCarl Fredrik EngelstadCarl Johan Fredrik Engelstad was a Norwegian writer, playwright, journalist, translator and theatre director.-Personal life:...
, Ronald Fangen: en mann og hans samtid, 1946 - Egil Yngvar Elseth, Ronald Fangen. Fra humanist til kristen, 1953
- Reidar Huseby (ed.), Frihet, ansvar, tjeneste. Ronald Fangens liv og visjon, 1995
- Jan Inge SørbøJan Inge SørbøJan Inge Sørbø is a Norwegian philologist, author and poet.He was born in Bru, and took the cand.philol. degree in the history of literature at the University of Bergen in 1982. He debuted as a poet in 1986, and has also written novels...
, Over dype svelg. Eit essay om Ronalds Fangens aktualitet, 1999 - Stewart D Govig, Ronald Fangen : Church and Culture in Norway (2005; ISBN 9780595354412)