In this part of the series, the Bible’s influence on Nordic culture, we will take a closer look at Nordic authors’ relationship with the Bible.
The Danish magazine Kristelig Dagblad said the following about the Danes, which we can say also applies to the entire Nordic region:
“200 years ago, people learned about the Bible in school or church, leading to a deeper knowledge of biblical literature. But today, many Danes are only familiar with the Christmas Gospel and are therefore unable to recognise the echoes of the Bible in literature… Despite Christianity’s declining influence, it still has a significant presence, even among authors who distance themselves from Christianity.“
We have also written articles about how Sweden’s, Finland’s and Denmark’s most well known authors have been influenced by the Bible, but in this part we will focus on the Bible’s influence on Norwegian authors.
Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) Norwegian playwright and author
Store norske leksikon (The Great Norwegian Encyclopedia) describes Henrik Ibsen as being Norway’s central author and a global literary figure since 1879. It is believed that Ibsen’s plays are the most performed after those of William Shakespeare.
There’s no doubt that Ibsen had a relationship with the Bible. In a letter to Bjørnstjerne Bjørson in 1865, he wrote:
“I work both morning and afternoon, which I’ve never been able to do before. It’s blessedly peaceful out here, no acquaintances, I read nothing but the Bible, – it is powerful and strong!”
Today, Ibsen’s Bible can be found on his desk at the Ibsen museum.
Bibel.no states: “We know that Henrik Ibsen used the Bible as a source for his writing. Especially significant is the so-called Grimstad Bible (Illustrated Bible for the Norwegian people 1840), which Ibsen borrowed from his employer when he was a pharmacist’s assistant in Grimstad.”
Sigrid Undset (1882-1949) Norwegian author
Sigrid Undset is Norway’s most internationally recognised female author. Her most well-known work is the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy (The Wreath, The Wife, and The Cross), published between 1920-1922. These books led to her being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1928.
Sigrid Undset lived in a time when the Bible still played a significant role in society, which is evident in her writing. A reader describes the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy: “A central theme in Undest’s books is the struggle within the human soul between self-will and God’s will. The books have a clear religious framework; the Bible is the resonance chamber in the work.”
Knut Hamsun (1859-1952) Norwegian author
Knut Hamsun was one of Norway’s most prominent authors. Many consider his work as the foundation for the modern novel. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920 for his book “Markens grøde” (Growth of the soil).
There is no doubt that Hamsun had a relationship with the Bible, which he had read several times. For example, the title of his Nobel Prize-winning novel, “Markens grøde”, is derived from the Bible. “Han lod ham fare hen over Jordens høie, og han aad Markens Grøde.” (He made him ride on the high places of the land, and he ate the produce of the field.) (Deuteronomy 32:13, see also Ezekiel 36:30 and Joel 1:1) In general, there are many references to the Bible in “Markens grøde”.
Levi Henriksen (1964-) Norwegian author, musician, and journalist
Levi Henriksen debuted in 2002 with a collection of short stories called “Feber” (Fever). In 2004, he published his first novel, “Snø vil falle over snø som har falt” (Snow will fall over fallen snow), in which the Bible is of great significance for the main character. He received the Bokhandlerpris award for this book in the same year.
In an interview with Vårt Land, Levi Henriksen discussed his relationship with the Bible, and its influence on his writing: “Very important. Life is an eternal struggle between good and evil. This is what the Bible is about, and it’s also what my books are about. Regardless of whether you believe or not, the Bible contains many fantastic stories… to me, the Bible is the mother of all stories. All musicians and filmmakers I know draw inspiration from the Bible, whether they are believers or not.”
