IvarAasen
Norwegian linguist
NielsHenrikAbel
Norwegian
mathematician
HCAndersen
Danishwriter
PeterChristen
Asbjørnsen
Norwegian folklorist
JensGladBalchen
Norwegianprofessor
JohnBauer
Swedishartist
ElsaBeskow
Swedishauthor
KristianBirkeland
Norwegian scientist
AndréBjerke
Norwegianwriter
VillhelmBjerknes
Norwegianmeteorologist
BjørnstjerneBjørnson
Norwegianwriter
KarenBlixen
Danishauthor
VictorBorge
Danishcomedian
TychoBrahe
Danishastronomer
GeorgBrandes
Danish literarycritic
OleBull
Norwegian violinist
ErikBye
Norwegianartist
MinnaCanth
Finnishwriter
andactivist
IvoCaprino
Norwegian filmdirector
AndersCelsius
Swedishastronomer
CamillaCollett
Norwegianwriter
Aril Edvardsen
Norwegianevangelist
ThorbjørnEgner
Norwegianwriter
SamEyde
Norwegianentrepreneur
JohanFalkberget
Norwegianauthor
KirstenFlagstad
Norwegianopera singer
WencheFoss
Norwegianactress
GretaGarbo
Swedishactress
EdvardGrieg
Norwegian romantic
composer
HelmerHanssen
Norwegianpolarexplorer
PietHein
Danishphilosopher
SonjaHenie
Norwegian figure skater
ThorHeyerdahl
Norwegianethnographer
LudvigHolberg
Danish-Norwegianwriter
Henrik Ibsen
Norwegianplaywright
Helge Ingstad
Norwegianexplorer
AntonJakobsen
Norwegianpolitician
GidskenJakobsen
Norwegianaviator
LudvigWalentinKarlsen
Norwegianpreacher
SørenKierkegaard
Danishphilosopher
ChristianKrohg
Norwegianpainter
OdaKrohg
Norwegianpainter
SelmaLagerlöf
Swedishauthor
Carl Larsson
Swedishartist
JennyLind
Swedishopera singer
Carl vonLinné
Swedishnatural scientist
MaxManus
Norwegian
resistancehero
JørgenMoe
Norwegian folklorist
EdvardMunch
Norwegianartist
FridtjofNansen
Norwegianexplorer
AstaNielsen
Danishactress
Carl Nielsen
Danishcomposer
ChristinaNilsson
Swedish soprano
RegineNormann
Swedishauthor
AasmundOlavssonVinje
Norwegianwriter
HarrySPettersen
Norwegian resistance
FredrikkeMarieQvam
Norwegiancampaigner
Povel Ramel
Swedishentertainer
KnudRasmussen
Danisharcticexplorer
JohanLudvigRuneberg
Finland’snational poet
Aksel Sandemose
Norwegianauthor
Gunnar Sønsteby
Norwegian resistance
hero
AmalieSkram
Norwegianauthor
GeorgSverdrup
Norwegianphilologist
OttoSverdrup
Norwegianpolarexplorer
Evert Taube
Swedishpoet
Frederik“Frits”Thaulow
Norwegianpainter
Geirr Tveitt
Norwegiancomposer
SigridUndset
Norwegianwriter
JørnUtzon
Danisharchitect
GustavVigeland
Norwegian sculptor
HenrikWergeland
Norwegianpoet
AndersZorn
Swedishartist
HCØrsted
Danishphysicist
Our
heroes
BjørnstjerneBjørnson isknownasoneof the“FourGreats”of
19th-centuryNorwegian literature–howdo theycompare?
TheFourGreats
Mega
fame
Not
known
at all
1820
1840
1860
1830
1850
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1849Alexander Kielland
born in Stavanger
1833 Jonas Lie,
born inHokksund
1828
Henrik
Ibsenborn
in Skien
1832Bjørnstjerne
Bjørnson
born inKvikne
1850First play,
TheBurialMound
is staged to little attention
1857 First play
MellemSlagene
(
Between the
Battles
) is
performed
1864Norwegian
national anthem
first performed
–with lyrics by
Bjørnson
1870Epiccycle
Arnljot
Gelline
published, including
celebratedode
Bergliot
1903Awarded
Nobel Prize in
Literature
1910Dies
inParis
1850Moves to
Christiania (now
Oslo), where
hemeets Ibsen
and Lie
1864Disillusioned,
Ibsenmoves to
Sorrento
1865 Theplay
Brand
finally
brings Ibsen
critical acclaim
1867Writes
PeerGynt
1879
ADoll’sHouse
causes controversy
for its portrayal
ofmarriage
1891
HeddaGabler
is initially
performed inGermany to
negative reviews
1906Dies in
Christiania
1883Novel
Gift
(
Poison
)
published
1886Writes
satire
TrePar
1902Writesmuch-
anthologised ghost story
Eliasand theDraug
1908Dies in
Stavern
1870Writes
powerful
marine
novel
Den
Fremsynte
1883Key
work
Familien
paaGilje
published
1891 Retires fromwriting
fiction andbecomesmayor
of his hometown, Stavanger
1906Dies
inBergen
1888Another
comedy,
Professoren
,
performed
Jonas
Lie
Alexander
Kielland
Henrik
Ibsen
Bjørnstjerne
Bjørnson
n
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