Vera Henriksen
Encyclopedia
Vera Margrethe Henriksen, (née Roscher Lund, born 22 March 1927), is a Norwegian novelist, playwright and non-fiction writer. She is particularly known for her historical novels and plays set in the Middle Ages.
and lived there until 1940, when she moved to Arendal
. Her father was military officer, later Colonel Ragnvald Alfred Roscher Lund
(1899–1975), the first commander of the Norwegian Military Intelligence Service, head of the Norwegian High Command
's office FO II in excile in London during World War II
. In 1944, she had to flee Norway during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
.
She continued her secondary education at the Norwegian gymnasium
in Uppsala, Sweden, and graduated in 1945. The following year she traveled to the United States where her family lived in New Jersey
. She studied architecture at Yale University
from 1946 to 1948. From 1948 to 1949, she studied art history
and journalism at Columbia University
. She married shipping executive, Olav Gotfred Henriksen in 1948. In total, she lived in the United States from 1946 to 1963.
Her first novel, Sølvhammeren (Silver Hammer) was published in 1961. This novel was followed by Jærtegn (Miracle) in 1962, and Helgenkongen (The Saint King) in 1963. The trilogy is about Olaf II of Norway
and his time. In the 1970s she wrote a novel series from the period after the Protestant Reformation
, Trollsteinen from 1970, followed by Pilegrimsferd, Blåbreen, Staupet and Skjærsild, the last from 1977. Among her historical plays are Asbjørn Selsbane from 1972, and Sverdet, first staged in 1974. She has also written books for children and young adults.
Vera Henriksen has an unusually broad and extensive writings behind her. She has written or delivered contributions to nearly fifty books. Central is a series of historical novels, some in several volumes, but she has also written contemporary novels, plays and nonfiction. Inspired by her father she developed an early interest in history, especially Norse saga
literature. Several of her books center on the problematic transition from Norse mythology
to Christianity
.
In addition to her fiction writing, Henriksen has written several non-fiction books. Among these are two volumes of the history of the Royal Norwegian Air Force
, covering the period from 1912 until 1945.
She was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1997. She was awarded the Norwegian Booksellers' Prize
in 1962, and the Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment in 1978.
Biography
Vera Margrethe Roscher Lund 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...
and lived there until 1940, when she moved to Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
. Her father was military officer, later Colonel Ragnvald Alfred Roscher Lund
Ragnvald Alfred Roscher Lund
Ragnvald Alfred Roscher Lund was a Norwegian military officer, with the rank of Colonel. He was a military attaché at the Norwegian legation in Stockholm in 1940...
(1899–1975), the first commander of the Norwegian Military Intelligence Service, head of the Norwegian High Command
Norwegian High Command
The Norwegian High Command was Norway's top military leadership from 1970 to 2003. It was first established in Northern Norway in 1940 by General Otto Ruge. It was then re-established by the Norwegian Government-in-exile in London in 1942, lasting until 1946...
's office FO II in excile in London during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1944, she had to flee Norway during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
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...
.
She continued her secondary education at the Norwegian gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Uppsala, Sweden, and graduated in 1945. The following year she traveled to the United States where her family lived in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She studied architecture at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
from 1946 to 1948. From 1948 to 1949, she studied art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
and journalism at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. She married shipping executive, Olav Gotfred Henriksen in 1948. In total, she lived in the United States from 1946 to 1963.
Her first novel, Sølvhammeren (Silver Hammer) was published in 1961. This novel was followed by Jærtegn (Miracle) in 1962, and Helgenkongen (The Saint King) in 1963. The trilogy is about Olaf II of Norway
Olaf II of Norway
Olaf II Haraldsson was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae and canonised in Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. Enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral...
and his time. In the 1970s she wrote a novel series from the period after the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, Trollsteinen from 1970, followed by Pilegrimsferd, Blåbreen, Staupet and Skjærsild, the last from 1977. Among her historical plays are Asbjørn Selsbane from 1972, and Sverdet, first staged in 1974. She has also written books for children and young adults.
Vera Henriksen has an unusually broad and extensive writings behind her. She has written or delivered contributions to nearly fifty books. Central is a series of historical novels, some in several volumes, but she has also written contemporary novels, plays and nonfiction. Inspired by her father she developed an early interest in history, especially Norse saga
Norse saga
The sagas are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, the battles that took place during the voyages, about migration to Iceland and of feuds between Icelandic families...
literature. Several of her books center on the problematic transition from Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
In addition to her fiction writing, Henriksen has written several non-fiction books. Among these are two volumes of the history of the Royal Norwegian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
The Royal Norwegian Air Force is the air force of Norway. It was established as a separate arm of the Norwegian armed forces on 10 November 1944. The RNoAF's peace force is approximately 1,430 employees . 600 personnel also serve their draft period in the RNoAF...
, covering the period from 1912 until 1945.
She was decorated Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1997. She was awarded the Norwegian Booksellers' Prize
Norwegian Booksellers' Prize
The Norwegian Booksellers' Prize is a literature prize was awarded by the Norwegian Booksellers Association. It was initiated in 1948, then did not return until 1961...
in 1962, and the Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment in 1978.
Awards
- 1962 - Bokhandlerprisen
- 1973 - Sarpsborgprisen
- 1978 - Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment
- 1988 - Riksmålsforbundets barne- og ungdomsbokpris
Novels
- Sølvhammeren 1961
- Jærtegn 1962
- Helgekongen 1963
- Glassberget 1966
- Trollsteinen 1970
- Pilgrimsferd 1971
- Blåbreen 1973
- Staupet 1975
- Skjærsild 1977
- Dronningsagaen 1979
- Kongespeil 1980
- Bodvars saga. Odins ravner 1983
- Bodvars saga. Spydet 1984
- Hellig Olav 1985
- Runekorset 1986
- Rekviem for et lite dampskip 1988
- Bodvars saga. Ravn og due 1989
- Silhuetter mot hvitt lys 1990
- Stavkjerringa 1997
- Klangen av en lutt 2001
- Ildens sang 2002
- Jarlefeiden 2003