Bjørnstjerne Martinus Bjørnson, Redaktøren [The Editor]

Kathy Rees (Independent Scholar - Europe)

Ed. by Susan Brantly, University of Wisconsin
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.5: Norwegian Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Kjerstin Moody (Gustavus Adolphus College), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London), Anja Tröger (University of Edinburgh)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1874

Places

Norway (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Play

Resources

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During Bjørnson’s stay in Rome, from 1873 to 1875, he wrote

En Fallit

[

The Bankrupt

] and

Redaktøren

[

The Editor

]

both of which were first performed in Stockholm in 1875, and published in that same year. They are early examples of contemporary and problem drama in Scandinavia.

The Editor

is based on Bjørnson’s own experiences as a politician. It raises the issue of the ethical responsibility in politics, and explores the effects of

journalistic persecution and partisan fanaticism.

Act 1

The Prosperous distiller Evje lives with his wife and only daughter, Gertrud, in circumstances of “snug comfort” (3). Gertrude is engaged to a politician, Harald Reyn: he is ambitious, hoping to become a cabinet minister, but, on the eve of the election, is attracting negative press. Mr and

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1261 words

Citation: Rees, Kathy. "Redaktøren". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 September 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=35811, accessed 16 April 2024.]

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