Thomas Krag
Encyclopedia
Thomas Peter Krag was a Norwegian novelist, playwright and writer of short stories. He was born in Kragerø
, grew up in Kristiansand
, and settled in Copenhagen
. Some of his books were bestsellers in Denmark when they were published, but today Krag is more or less sunk into oblivion.
, as the son of parliament member Peter Rasmus Krag
and Fredrikke Petrine Fyhn. The familiy moved to Kristiansand
when he was two years old. Among his elder brothers were Hans Peter Fyhn Krag and businessman Nils Krag
, and a younger brother was poet Vilhelm Krag. He was a grandson of Hans Peter Schnitler Krag. Among his uncles were Director General of public roads Hans Hagerup Krag
and Colonel Ole Krag, and he was a cousin of painter Lul Krag
. He was married to Ida Bengta Emilie Nielsen from 1901 to 1912, and was the father of literary historian Erik Krag
.
in 1890. He made his literary debut in 1891, when he published his first book, the Indian story Fældejægeren eller Skovløberens Forræderi under the pseudonym "Edvard Cherson", and also the novel Jon Græff. In 1892 he published Fra den gamle By og andre Skildringer, and in 1893 came the story collection Ensomme Mennesker. Krag settled in Copenhagen
, where he was part of the Norwegian colony that frequented the café Bernina, known for his eccentric behaviour and being a night owl
. He was often sitting at Bernina until closing time, making notes of literary ideas on pieces of paper, and then continued writing at his home until dayspring. His novel Mulm was published in Copenhagen in 1893, and in 1894 he published the play Kong Aagon. The novel Kobberslangen was published in 1895. Willy Dahl
holds the 1896 novel Ada Wilde as his best work. In 1897 he published the novel Ulf Ran and a collection of stories and fairytales titled Vesterfra. In 1898 he published the novel Beates Hus and the short story collection Tusmørke. In his literary history from 1924 Kristian Elster
emphasizes Krag's 1904 novel Gunvor Kjeld. Præstens datter, where the religious struggles and fate of the priest "Kjeld" form the background for the later life of "Gunvor", the priest's daughter. Later books are Ildliljen and Stenbænken from 1905, Maagereden from 1906, Det Allerhelligste and Offerlam from 1907, and Tubal den Fredløse from 1908. In 1909 his play Kong Aagon was staged at Nationaltheatret
in Kristiania, directed by his brother. In 1911 he published Fortællinger fra Kakkelovnskrogen, and in 1912 Frank Hjelm. Historien om en hjemløs.
He died in Kristiania
in 1913. A memorial edition of his works, Mindeudgave (nine volumes) was issued between 1915 and 1917. He has been portrayed by illustrator Olaf Krohn
and painters Christian Krohg
, Oda Krohg
and Henrik Lund
.
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....
, grew up in Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, and settled in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. Some of his books were bestsellers in Denmark when they were published, but today Krag is more or less sunk into oblivion.
Personal life
Krag was born in KragerøKragerø
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....
, as the son of parliament member Peter Rasmus Krag
Peter Rasmus Krag
Peter Rasmus Krag was a Norwegian engineer captain in the Norwegian Army, chief-of-roads and politician. He sat as a member of the Parliament of Norway for several terms....
and Fredrikke Petrine Fyhn. The familiy moved to Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
when he was two years old. Among his elder brothers were Hans Peter Fyhn Krag and businessman Nils Krag
Nils Krag
Nils Krag was a Norwegian businessman. He was born in Risør, a son of politician Peter Rasmus Krag. He was a brother of Thomas and Vilhelm Krag. He was the founder of the company Krag Maskinfabrikk, a producer of franking machines and postmark machines...
, and a younger brother was poet Vilhelm Krag. He was a grandson of Hans Peter Schnitler Krag. Among his uncles were Director General of public roads Hans Hagerup Krag
Hans Hagerup Krag
Hans Hagerup Krag was a Norwegian engineer.He was hired as an engineer in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in 1852, and served as director of the Norwegian Directorate of Public Roads from 1874 to 1903. Also, together with Thomas Heftye he founded the Norwegian Mountain Touring...
and Colonel Ole Krag, and he was a cousin of painter Lul Krag
Lul Krag
Lul Krag was a Norwegian painter. She was born in Kongsberg, a daughter of Colonel Ole Krag. She is best known for her landscape paintings from Rosendal. She is represented at the National Gallery of Norway with the charcoal drawings Løvtrær og kirke, Blomster i parken, and Fjell med...
. He was married to Ida Bengta Emilie Nielsen from 1901 to 1912, and was the father of literary historian Erik Krag
Erik Krag
Erik Krag was a Norwegian literary historian, translator, novelist and playwright. He was born in Copenhagen, a son of novelist Thomas Krag and poet Iben Nielsen. Krag is known as the founder of Slavic literary history as academic discipline in Norway. He was a professor at the University of Oslo...
.
Career
Krag finished his secondary educationExamen 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 1890. He made his literary debut in 1891, when he published his first book, the Indian story Fældejægeren eller Skovløberens Forræderi under the pseudonym "Edvard Cherson", and also the novel Jon Græff. In 1892 he published Fra den gamle By og andre Skildringer, and in 1893 came the story collection Ensomme Mennesker. Krag settled in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, where he was part of the Norwegian colony that frequented the café Bernina, known for his eccentric behaviour and being a night owl
Night owl (person)
Night owl is a term used to describe a person who tends to stay up until late at night. Another name for a night owl is evening person.The opposite of a night owl is an early bird, a lark as opposed to owl, someone who tends to begin sleeping at a time that is considered early and also wakes early...
. He was often sitting at Bernina until closing time, making notes of literary ideas on pieces of paper, and then continued writing at his home until dayspring. His novel Mulm was published in Copenhagen in 1893, and in 1894 he published the play Kong Aagon. The novel Kobberslangen was published in 1895. Willy Dahl
Willy Dahl
Willy Dahl is a Norwegian literary researcher and literary critic. He was a professor at the University of Trondheim from 1978, and at the University of Bergen from 1981 to 1992. He has written several books on literary history. He has been a literary critic for the newspaper...
holds the 1896 novel Ada Wilde as his best work. In 1897 he published the novel Ulf Ran and a collection of stories and fairytales titled Vesterfra. In 1898 he published the novel Beates Hus and the short story collection Tusmørke. In his literary history from 1924 Kristian Elster
Kristian Elster (born 1881)
Kristian Elster was a Norwegian novelist, literary historian, theatre critic and biographer, the son of Kristian Elster d.e.. He made his literary début in 1907 with the story collection Fortællinger. His liteary breakthrough was the novel trilogy I lære, Landeveien and Mester, published from 1911...
emphasizes Krag's 1904 novel Gunvor Kjeld. Præstens datter, where the religious struggles and fate of the priest "Kjeld" form the background for the later life of "Gunvor", the priest's daughter. Later books are Ildliljen and Stenbænken from 1905, Maagereden from 1906, Det Allerhelligste and Offerlam from 1907, and Tubal den Fredløse from 1908. In 1909 his play Kong Aagon was staged at Nationaltheatret
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
in Kristiania, directed by his brother. In 1911 he published Fortællinger fra Kakkelovnskrogen, and in 1912 Frank Hjelm. Historien om en hjemløs.
He died in Kristiania
Oslo
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...
in 1913. A memorial edition of his works, Mindeudgave (nine volumes) was issued between 1915 and 1917. He has been portrayed by illustrator Olaf Krohn
Olaf Krohn
Olaf Krohn was a Norwegian satirical illustrator, educated as painter.He is particularly known for his illustrations in the satirical magazine Vikingen. He published the series Theaterkatten from 1897 to 1929. Among his other publications are Joujou; aarsrevue med vers from 1886, and...
and painters Christian Krohg
Christian Krohg
Christian Krohg , was a Norwegian naturalist painter, illustrator, author and journalist.-Life and career:...
, Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg, born Othilia Pauline Christine Lasson , was a Norwegian painter, and the wife of her teacher and colleague Christian Krohg....
and Henrik Lund
Henrik Lund
Henning Jakob Henrik Lund or Intel'eraq was a Greenlandic lyricist, painter and priest. He wrote the lyrics to "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit,"in the indigenous Greenlandic language, an Eskimo–Aleut language...
.