Waldemar Christofer Brøgger (writer)
Encyclopedia
Waldemar Christofer Brøgger (5 December 1911 – 14 August 1991) was a Norwegian
novelist, journalist, translator and editor.
as a son of Anton Wilhelm Brøgger
(1884–1951) and Inger Ursin (1882–1941). He was a great-grandson of the book printer Anton Wilhelm Brøgger
, a grandson of geologist Waldemar Christofer Brøgger and a brother of writer Niels Christian Brøgger
.
Between 1933 and 1941 he was married to Elin Amalie Thon, and between 1942 and 1948 he was married to Mai Lindegård. Finally, between 1948 and 1976 he was married to nurse Enid Wesenlund. He is the father of anthropologist Jan Brøgger
, born 1936.
in 1930, and took the examen philosophicum
at the Royal Frederick University
before taking up a career in writing. His début novel was Den evige vilje ('The Eternal Will', 1932). In the following years he lived in London
, Capri
, Paris
and Berlin
, but he moved back to Norway in 1937 due to the harsh political climate. He was hired as a journalist in Tidens Tegn
, to which he previously had contributed from abroad. He became a theatre critic in 1938, but resigned in 1940.
During the Norwegian Campaign
, as a part of World War II
, he participated in the armed resistance that followed the German invasion
. During the subsequent occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
he joined the civil resistance. He was arrested by the Nazi authorities on 15 September 1941. After spending five days at Møllergata 19
, he sat at Grini concentration camp until 14 March 1942. Both his father and brother spent time at Grini as well. After his release, Brøgger fled to Sweden in 1943. Here he published books under the pseudonyms Carsten Frogner and Peter Valentin. The book Den osynliga fronten ('The Invisible Front', 1943) became controversial, as it was published in German language in Switzerland, and information in it could be used to crack down on Norwegian resistance fighters. Brøgger was acquitted during the legal purge in Norway after World War II
, but sharply criticized in the Norwegian Authors' Union
.
Nonetheless, Brøgger continued his writing career, releasing mainly historical novel
s and crime novels. He translated dozens of books to Norwegian, including One Thousand and One Nights which was released in six volumes in 1950. He edited or contributed to the encyclopedias Cappelens ettbindsleksikon (1955), Gyldendals navneleksikon (1958), Combi. Visuelt leksikon (1969–1970), Refleks leksikon (1972), and Cappelens leksikon (1983–1985). He worked for the publishing house J.W. Cappelens Forlag
in this period. In his older days he retreated to Tjøme
, where he died in August 1991.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
novelist, journalist, translator and editor.
Personal life
He was born in StavangerStavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
as a son of Anton Wilhelm Brøgger
Anton Wilhelm Brøgger (archaeologist)
Anton Wilhelm Brøgger was a Norwegian archaeologist.-Personal life:He was born in Stockholm as a son of professor of geology Waldemar Christofer Brøgger and Antonie Scheel Siewers . He was a grandson of the book printer Anton Wilhelm Brøgger.In September 1909 he married Inger Ursin...
(1884–1951) and Inger Ursin (1882–1941). He was a great-grandson of the book printer Anton Wilhelm Brøgger
Anton Wilhelm Brøgger (printer)
Anton Wilhelm Brøgger was a Norwegian book printer.-Personal life:Brøgger was born to Niels Christian Brøgger and Frideriche Bader in Kristiansand, Aust-Agder. His only brother was Christian Fredrik Brøgger...
, a grandson of geologist Waldemar Christofer Brøgger and a brother of writer Niels Christian Brøgger
Niels Christian Brøgger
Niels Christian Ursin Brøgger was a Norwegian essayist, novelist, journalist and critic.He was born in Kristiania as a son of Anton Wilhelm Brøgger and Inger Ursin . He was a great-grandson of the book printer Anton Wilhelm Brøgger, a grandson of geologist Waldemar Christofer Brøgger and a...
.
Between 1933 and 1941 he was married to Elin Amalie Thon, and between 1942 and 1948 he was married to Mai Lindegård. Finally, between 1948 and 1976 he was married to nurse Enid Wesenlund. He is the father of anthropologist Jan Brøgger
Jan Brøgger
Jan Christian Brøgger was a Norwegian professor of social anthropology and a clinical psychologist. He was one of the most well-known Norwegian academics of his generation....
, born 1936.
Career
Brøgger took his examen artiumExamen 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 1930, and took the examen philosophicum
Examen philosophicum
Examen philosophicum, often abbreviated ex. phil., is a course at certain Norwegian universities that functions as an introductory course within philosophy and scientific method...
at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
before taking up a career in writing. His début novel was Den evige vilje ('The Eternal Will', 1932). In the following years he lived in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Capri
Capri
Capri is an Italian island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, in the Campania region of Southern Italy...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, but he moved back to Norway in 1937 due to the harsh political climate. He was hired as a journalist in Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1910 to 1941.-Editors:The founder and first editor-in-chief of Tidens Tegn was Ola Thommessen, who edited the newspaper until 1917. Thommessen had recently left the editor chair of Verdens Gang in protest, bringing much of Verdens...
, to which he previously had contributed from abroad. He became a theatre critic in 1938, but resigned in 1940.
During the Norwegian Campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
, as a part of 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...
, he participated in the armed resistance that followed the German invasion
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
. During the subsequent 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...
he joined the civil resistance. He was arrested by the Nazi authorities on 15 September 1941. After spending five days at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
, he sat at Grini concentration camp until 14 March 1942. Both his father and brother spent time at Grini as well. After his release, Brøgger fled to Sweden in 1943. Here he published books under the pseudonyms Carsten Frogner and Peter Valentin. The book Den osynliga fronten ('The Invisible Front', 1943) became controversial, as it was published in German language in Switzerland, and information in it could be used to crack down on Norwegian resistance fighters. Brøgger was acquitted during the legal purge in Norway after World War II
Legal purge in Norway after World War II
When the occupation of Norway ended in May 1945, several thousand Norwegians and foreign citizens were tried and convicted for various acts that the occupying powers sanctioned...
, but sharply criticized in 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...
.
Nonetheless, Brøgger continued his writing career, releasing mainly historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
s and crime novels. He translated dozens of books to Norwegian, including One Thousand and One Nights which was released in six volumes in 1950. He edited or contributed to the encyclopedias Cappelens ettbindsleksikon (1955), Gyldendals navneleksikon (1958), Combi. Visuelt leksikon (1969–1970), Refleks leksikon (1972), and Cappelens leksikon (1983–1985). He worked for the publishing house J.W. Cappelens Forlag
J.W. Cappelens Forlag
J.W. Cappelens Forlag, usually referred to as Cappelen, was one of the oldest publishing houses of Norway. J.W. Cappelens Forlag was founded in 1829 by Jørgen Wright Cappelen, of the distinguished Cappelen family. Torger Baardseth was the director of Cappelen between 1904 and 1943. JW Cappelens...
in this period. In his older days he retreated to Tjøme
Tjøme
Tjøme is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tjøme. The parish of Tjømø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 .-Name:...
, where he died in August 1991.