
Thorbjørn Egner (12 December 1912 – 24 December 1990) was a
Norwegian playwright, songwriter and illustrator known principally for his books, plays and musicals for children. He is principally associated with his narratives for children including ''
Karius og Baktus'' (1949) and ''
Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by'' (1955).
Biography
He grew up in the working-class neighbourhood
Kampen in Oslo, Norway. His parents were Magnus Egner (1872–1952) and Anna Hansen (1874–1957).
He was trained as an artist at the
Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The National College of Art and Design () was established in 1818.
In 1996, the National College of Art and Design became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts (''Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo'', KHiO), along with the Norwegian National Academy of ...
under
Eivind Nielsen and
Per Krohg 1933–34.
He started his career in advertising. Over a seven year period, he was employed as a designer and decorator at the advertising firm Høydahl Ohme A/S.
His breakthrough was on the nationally broadcast children's radio show ''
Barnetimen for de minste'' in the beginning of the 1950s. Egner is particularly known for his books ''
Karius og Baktus'' (1949), ''
Thorbjørn Egners lesebøker'' (1950–1972), ''Klatremus og de andre dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen'' (1953) and ''
Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by'' (1955, translated in 1976). The latter two were made into successful musicals. He also illustrated his own books.
Thorbjørn Egner received the
Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1972 and
Cappelenprisen in 1979. He also awarded the
Spellemannprisen in 1975 for ''
Ole Brumm og vennene hans'', in 1977 for the album ''
Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by'' and in 1982 for ''Beste Egnerviser'', a collection of his songs.
Personal life
In 1937, Thorbjørn Egner married Annie Eliassen (born in 1912 in Oslo). They had four children together. Egner died in the afternoon of
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas, the festival commemorating nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus. Christmas Day is observance of Christmas by country, observed around the world, and Christma ...
1990 of a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
. He was buried at
Ullern Church (''Ullern kirkegård'') in Oslo. He is the great-grandfather of ski jumper
Halvor Egner Granerud.
Selected publications
Books
* ''Gamle hus i Vågå'' (1943)
* ''Gamle hus i Rauland'' (1945)
Children's books
* ''Barneboka'' (1940, with ''Sigurd Winsnes'')
* ''Malermester Klattiklatt dypper kosten - og tar fatt'' (1940)
* ''Truls og Kari: en liten bok for store og små'' (1941)
* ''Truls og Kari kommer til den store byen'' (1942)
* ''Ola-Ola som alle dyra var så glad i'' (1942)
* ''Småfolk'' (1942)
* ''Jumbo som dro ut i verden'' (1943)
* ''Klattiklatt i hjemmefronten'' (1945)
* ''Hesten, kua og de andre'' (1945)
* ''Da Per var ku'' (1946)
* ''
Karius og Baktus'' (1949)
* ''Tretten viser fra barnetimen'' (songbook, 1951)
* ''Nye viser fra barnetimen'' (songbook, 1952)
* ''Klatremus og de andre dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen'' (1953)
* ''
Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by'' (1955)
* ''Tommy og elefanten'' (1958)
* ''4 Verden er stor'' (1972)
Albums
* ''Kardemommeviser'' (1955)
* ''Doktor Dyregod'' (1955)
* ''Karius og Baktus'' (1957)
* ''Ole Brumm (Winnie the Pooh) og vennene hans'' (stories 1-4, 1974; stories 5-8, 1975; stories 9-11, 1976)
* ''Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by'' (1975)
* ''De seksten beste Egnerviser'' (issued 1982; recorded 1953–1982)
* ''Hakkebakkeskogen'' (2012)
Films
* ''Karius og Baktus'' (1955, puppet film, directed by
Ivo Caprino
Ivo Caprino (17 February 1920 – 8 February 2001) was a Norway, Norwegian film director and writer, best known for his puppet films. His most noted film, ''Flåklypa Grand Prix'' (Pinchcliffe Grand Prix), was made in 1975.
Early life
Cap ...
)
* ''Klatremus i knipe'' (1955, puppet film, directed by Ivo Caprino)
* ''Folk og røvere i Kardemomme by'' (1988, directed by
Bente Erichsen)
* ''Dyrene i Hakkebakkeskogen'' (2016, puppet film, directed by
Rasmus A. Sivertsen)
References
Other sources
* Christopher Hals Gylseth (2000) ''Thorbjørn Egner. Tigergutt kan alt!'' (Schibsted)
* Erle M. Stokke, Astrid Hagen Krog (1999) ''Thorbjørn Egner, Forfatterskapslesning i skolen'' (Biblioteksentralen)
External links
Thorbjørn Egner profile at Ballade
{{DEFAULTSORT:Egner, Thorbjoern
1912 births
1990 deaths
Musicians from Oslo
Writers from Oslo
Artists from Oslo
Oslo National Academy of the Arts alumni
Norwegian children's writers
Norwegian children's book illustrators
20th-century Norwegian non-fiction writers
20th-century Norwegian writers
20th-century Norwegian male singers
20th-century Norwegian singers
Norwegian male artists
20th-century Norwegian illustrators
Norwegian male composers
Norwegian male singer-songwriters
Norwegian singer-songwriters
Spellemannprisen winners
Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal
20th-century Norwegian male musicians