Torolf Elster
Encyclopedia
Torolf Elster was a Norwegian newspaper and radio journalist, magazine editor, novelist, crime writer and writer of short stories. He was Director-General of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) from 1972 to 1981.
. His parents were author and literary critic Kristian Elster, Jr. (1881–1947) and Ragnhild Poulsen (1885–1958). He was married to poet and psychoanalyst Magli Elster
(née Raknes, daughter of psychologist Ola Raknes
and poet and playwright Aslaug Vaa
). He was the father of philosopher Jon Elster
.
in the late 1930s. He was a member of the communist movement Mot Dag
before the German occupation of Norway 1940–1945, during which he had to flee the country. The novel Historien om Gottlob was issued in 1941. In Stockholm
he edited the underground newspaper Håndslag
, together with Eyvind Johnson
and Willy Brandt
. Håndslag was smuggled into Norway and distributed illegally. Funded by the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
, it was issued once every second week, and was printed in 15–20,000 copies towards the end of the war. Elster was also a commentator in Norsk Tidend.
Elster was a foreign editor for Arbeiderbladet from 1945 to 1946, and editor of the labour movement
's magazine Kontakt from 1947 to 1954. He then wrote for Arbeiderbladet for almost ten years, from 1954 to 1963. During this time he also wrote several non-fiction books, mainly political literature: Frihet og demokrati (Freedom and Democracy, 1947), Øst og Vest (East and West, 1948), Sosialismen under debatt (Socialism Under Debate, 1950) and Sovjetmysteriet (The Soviet Mystery, 1957). He started working as a program manager for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation in 1963, and was Director-General from 1972 to 1981.
Elster was awarded the Riverton Prize
for the crime novel Thomas Pihls annen lov (1982). In 1986 he and Magli Elster were awarded the Fritt Ord Award
. He died in 2006 in Oslo.
Background
Elster was born in KristianiaOslo
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...
. His parents were author and literary critic Kristian Elster, Jr. (1881–1947) and Ragnhild Poulsen (1885–1958). He was married to poet and psychoanalyst Magli Elster
Magli Elster
Magli Elster was a Norwegian psychoanalyst, literary critic, poet and translator. She was the daughter of psychologist Ola Raknes and poet and playwright Aslaug Vaa, married to writer and Director-General of the NRK Torolf Elster, and the mother of philosopher Jon Elster...
(née Raknes, daughter of psychologist Ola Raknes
Ola Raknes
Ola Raknes was a Norwegian psychologist, philologist and non-fiction writer. Born in Bergen, Norway, he was internationally known as a psychoanalyst in the Reichian tradition...
and poet and playwright Aslaug Vaa
Aslaug Vaa
Aslaug Vaa was a Norwegian poet and playwright.-Biography:Aslaug Vaa was born on Nystog in Rauland, in Telemark county, Norway. Her lyrical debut was Nord i leite...
). He was the father of philosopher Jon Elster
Jon Elster
Jon Elster is a Norwegian social and political theorist who has authored works in the philosophy of social science and rational choice theory...
.
Journalist and literary career
Elster made his literary debut in 1936 with the novel Muren. He was sales manager at the publishing company Tiden Norsk ForlagTiden Norsk Forlag
Tiden Norsk Forlag is a Norwegian publishing company owned by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, and publishes fiction and general literature.-History:Tiden was founded in 1933 by the Norwegian Labour Party. In 1936 it bought Fram Forlag. In the early years the largest authors were Aksel Sandemose and Lars...
in the late 1930s. He was a member of the communist movement Mot Dag
Mot Dag
Mot Dag was a Norwegian periodical and a communist organization with the same name.It was established in 1921 under the initiative of Erling Falk, partly with origins in the debate forum in the Social Democratic student government in Oslo ; partly from a Falk-led study circle which from 1919...
before the German occupation of Norway 1940–1945, during which he had to flee the country. The novel Historien om Gottlob was issued in 1941. In Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
he edited the underground newspaper Håndslag
Håndslag
Håndslag was a Norwegian bi-weekly political magazine issued in Stockholm from June 1942 to June 1945. It was issued by Eyvind Johnson, and edited by Torolf Elster. Among the journalists were Willy Brandt and Helge Krog. The magazine was secretly distributed in occupied Norway. Towards the end of...
, together with Eyvind Johnson
Eyvind Johnson
Eyvind Johnson, was a Swedish writer and author. He became a member of the Swedish Academy in 1957 and shared the Nobel Prize in Literature with Harry Martinson in 1974 with the citation: for a narrative art, far-seeing in lands and ages, in the service of freedom.Johnson was born Olof Edvin...
and Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
. Håndslag was smuggled into Norway and distributed illegally. Funded by the Norwegian legation in Stockholm
Norwegian legation in Stockholm
The Norwegian Legation in Stockholm played a significant role during the Second World War. Until 9 April 1940 the legation consisted of four persons, and at the end of the war about 1,100 persons were connected to the legation. Refugee cases were among the legation's most central tasks...
, it was issued once every second week, and was printed in 15–20,000 copies towards the end of the war. Elster was also a commentator in Norsk Tidend.
Elster was a foreign editor for Arbeiderbladet from 1945 to 1946, and editor of the labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
's magazine Kontakt from 1947 to 1954. He then wrote for Arbeiderbladet for almost ten years, from 1954 to 1963. During this time he also wrote several non-fiction books, mainly political literature: Frihet og demokrati (Freedom and Democracy, 1947), Øst og Vest (East and West, 1948), Sosialismen under debatt (Socialism Under Debate, 1950) and Sovjetmysteriet (The Soviet Mystery, 1957). He started working as a program manager for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation in 1963, and was Director-General from 1972 to 1981.
Elster was awarded the Riverton Prize
Riverton Prize
The Riverton Prize is a literature award given annually to the best Norwegian crime story .- Winners :...
for the crime novel Thomas Pihls annen lov (1982). In 1986 he and Magli Elster were awarded the Fritt Ord Award
Fritt Ord Award
The organization Fritt Ord awards two prizes to support freedom of speech; the Fritt Ord Award and the Fritt Ord Honorary Award .-Fritt Ord Award:These are the laureates of the Fritt Ord Award:*1976 : Johan Vogt*1977 : Henrik Groth...
. He died in 2006 in Oslo.