Agnar Mykle

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Agnar Mykle (1915-1994) was a Norwegian author, whose novels are highlights in Norwegian literature.

As a child Mykle was often sick. His sickness forced him to stay indoors for most of his childhood. Mykle went to high school at "Handelsgymnasiet in Trondheim" where he graduated in 1935. Soon after, he was offered a job as an assistant at his old school. After working diligently, he was offered a job as a principal at a similar school in Kirkenes.

In the 1940s Mykle was active as journalist and writer in the Norwegian Labour movement. He wrote scripts for their election films and plays for amateur theatre groups associated with the Labour movement. Mykle debuted as an author in 1948 with "Taustigen", a collection of short stories. Other short story collections included Jeg er likeglad, sa gutten (1952), Kors på halsen (1958) and Largo (1967). His novel Tyven, tyven skal du hete (published in English as The Hotel Room) was written in (1951). His two subsequent novels, Lasso rundt fru Luna (published in English as Lasso Around The Moon) (1954) and Sangen om den røde rubin (The Song of the Red Ruby) (1956) have strong autobiographical tendencies and are regarded as cornerstones in Norwegian literature. His last published novel was - originally thought of as a follow up on the previous two - an end on the tale on Ask Burlefot; Rubicon (1965).

The publication of The Song of the Red Ruby, ignited in 1957 what became one of the most famous court cases in Norwegian history. Mykle and his publisher Harald Grieg were accused of writing and publishing immoral and obscene material. Mykle's defense attorney was Johan Bernhard Hjort. Mykle and Grieg were both acquitted, but the remaining copies of the book were ordered withdrawn from the market. The Norwegian Supreme Court overturned the ruling on the withdrawal in 1958. The court case and the pressure caused by the media attention changed Mykle for the rest of his life, and he became a regular reclusive. No photographs were published of the author after 1957 and he chose to almost only associate with friends and family. In the autumn of 1993, however, Mykle had a series of conversations with Nils Kåre Jacobsen - an employee at Gyldendal; Mykle's editorial company. These talks later became the book; "Mine bøker er musikk: møter med Agnar Mykle" ( - "My books are music: meetings with Agnar Mykle")

The translations of The Song of the Red Ruby got tremendous attention outside of Norway, especially in the USA. A huge sale followed, but Mykle had financial difficulties for the rest of his life. His letter exchanges with the Norwegian inland revenue were published in the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, as eloquently written as most of his literature.

Three collections of his non-fiction writing were published post-humously in 1997 and 1998, Mannen fra Atlantis, En flodhest på parnasset and Alter of disk.

His passions included the puppet theatre, both as a director and puppeteer, and with his wife Jane he published a book about puppet theatre, Dukketeater, considered the most important book written about the subject in Norway.

Mykle also had an avid interest in music all his life. His father played in a marching band in Trondheim, and Mykle was particularly taken with marches and other band music. His favourite composer of marches was Kenneth Alford.

As an author, Mykle brought passion, love of beauty and the longing for closeness to Norwegian literature. His books appealed to men and women alike, but men particularly found in his writing the verbalization of their own longings and urges. It is safe to say the Mykle's books influenced the change in sexual attitudes in Scandinavia throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He hated publishers, puritanism and pompousness.

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