The Four Greats (Danish and Norwegian: De fire store) is a term used for four of the most influential Norwegian writers of the late 19th century. [1]
The Four Greats were:
Other writers have been suggested, notably Amalie Skram. [5]
Originally a publicity gimmick introduced by their publisher, Gyldendal, the term stuck and is still widely used. The four authors had in common that they to some extent belonged to the same generation and were influential in Literary realism within Norway during the period 1860–1890. Additionally Bjørnson, Ibsen and Lie all attended the same school, Heltberg Latin School (Heltbergs Studentfabrikk) in Christiania (now Oslo), where they were taught by Henrik Heltberg (1806–1873). [6]
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer who received the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature "as a tribute to his noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, which has always been distinguished by both the freshness of its inspiration and the rare purity of its spirit". The first Norwegian Nobel laureate, he was a prolific polemicist and extremely influential in Norwegian public life and Scandinavian cultural debate. Bjørnson is considered to be one of the four great Norwegian writers, alongside Ibsen, Lie, and Kielland. He is also celebrated for his lyrics to the Norwegian national anthem, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet". The composer Fredrikke Waaler based a composition for voice and piano on a text by Bjørnson, as did Anna Teichmüller.
Jonas Lauritz Idemil Lie was a Norwegian novelist, poet, and playwright who, together with Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Alexander Kielland, is considered to have been one of the Four Greats of 19th century Norwegian literature.
Stephan Abel Sinding was a Norwegian-Danish sculptor. He moved to Copenhagen in 1883 and had his breakthrough the same year. In 1890 he obtained Danish citizenship. In 1910 he settled in Paris where he lived and worked until his death in 1922.
Erik Theodor Werenskiold was a Norwegian painter and illustrator. He is especially known for his drawings for the Asbjørnsen and Moe collection of Norske Folkeeventyr, and his illustrations for the Norwegian edition of the Snorri Sturlason Heimskringla.
Tancred Ibsen was a Norwegian military officer, aviator, film director and screenwriter.
Suzannah Ibsen was a Norwegian woman who was the wife of playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen and mother of noted politician Sigurd Ibsen.
Events in the year 1906 in Norway.
Events in the year 1978 in Norway.
Events in the year 1881 in Norway.
Events in the year 1832 in Norway.
Irene Ibsen Bille was a Norwegian novelist and playwright.
Guri Stormoen was a Norwegian actress. She was active both on stage and in film.
Øyvind Anker was a Norwegian librarian.
Nyt Tidsskrift is a former Norwegian literary, cultural and political periodical issued from 1882 to 1887, and with a second series from 1892 to 1895. The periodical had contributions from several of the leading intellectuals of the time, including later Nobel Literature Prize laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, later Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fredrik Bajer, the writers Alexander L. Kielland, Jonas Lie, Arne Garborg and Hans Aanrud, proponents for women's rights Camilla Collett, Gina Krog and Hagbard Emanuel Berner, and painter Erik Werenskiold.
Anna Magdalene Thoresen, née Kragh was a Danish-born Norwegian poet, novelist, short story writer and playwright. She is said to have inspired a number of other writers to model characters after her. Her stepdaughter, Suzannah Ibsen, was married to Henrik Ibsen. A selection of her letters has been published as Breve fra Magdalene Thoresen 1855-1901.
Karoline Bjørnson was a Norwegian actress. She is best known as the wife and supporter of poet, playwright, popular speaker and Nobel laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.
Bergliot Ibsen was a Norwegian mezzo-soprano singer.
Illustreret Nyhedsblad was a Norwegian weekly magazine, issued from 1851 to 1866 in Christiania, Norway. Its first editor was Paul Botten-Hansen, who edited the magazine from 1851 to 1864 and from 1865 to 1866, with Frederik Bætzmann being editor from 1864 to 1865. Jonas Lie was the editor of the magazine from 1863 to 1864. Among its contributors were Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Henrik Ibsen, Ernst Sars and Camilla Collett. The latter published her writings about the visits to the European cities in the period between December 1863 and July 1864. Ibsen's plays Hærmændene paa Helgeland and Kærlighedens komedie were published as supplements to the magazine.
The 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature was the third prestigious literary prize based upon Alfred Nobel's will, which awarded to the Norwegian poet and politician Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832–1910) "as a tribute to his noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, which has always been distinguished by both the freshness of its inspiration and the rare purity of its spirit." The prize was announced in October 08, 1903 and was given in December 10, 1903 at Stockholm.
Alfhild Stormoen was a Norwegian Norwegian actress and director.