Alf Prøysen

Alf Prøysen, 1964.

Alf Prøysen (23 July 1914 – 23 November 1970), was a writer and musician from Norway.^[1] His Mrs. Pepperpot books established him as a children's author.^[2] Prøysen was one of the most important Norwegian cultural personalities in the second half of the twentieth century, and he made significant contributions to literature, music, television and radio.

Early life

He was born at Rudshøgda in Ringsaker.

His childhood was typical for those of the social class of tenant farmers—the landless lower class of rural Norway. This is reflected in his songs and short stories, where he draws realistic, satirical and harsh pictures of class relations and everyday life in rural Norway.

Career

Prøysen contributed to many artistic fields: children's radio, short stories, theater and music. His only novel Trost i taklampa ("thrush in the ceiling lamp") was a great success both as a book and as a play, depicting the urbanization of 1950s Norway, and the effect this had on rural life.

In 1956 the first book (of a series) about Mrs. Pepperpot is published.

Bisexuality

Prior to Prøysen's 90th anniversary in July 2004, Prøysen's biographer Ove Røsbak – who had published his biography in 1992, wrote an article in Dagbladet^[3] Røsbak claimed that several of his sources has confirmed that Prøysen had discussed his bisexuality during the 1960s. This caused a large debate.^[4] Dagbladet editor Knut Olav Åmås commented ten days later that the debate revealed mixed feelings towards gay/bisexuality.^[5]

Three days later, Dagbladet had an interview with gay activist Karen-Christine Friele.^[6] Friele confirmed that Prøysen had told her about his love of men, and his divided life.^[7]

In the aftermath, Prøysen's songs have been re-read and re-interpreted, in search of gay themes.^[4][8][9] "Vise om løgna" [The song about the lie] is a song about being consumed by secrets, while "Mannen på holdeplassen" [The man at the tram stop] could be read as a song about love at first sight between men.

Death

Alf Prøysen died of cancer on 23 November 1970, aged 56. He was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund, at Norway's main honorary burial ground—Æreslunden.^[10]

After death

The encyclopedia Store Norske Leksikon says that "Prøysen's great popularity, shadowed (in his lifetime) for his deeper literary qualities". Furthermore "Still in 1972 Olav H. Hauge wrote in his diary that Prøysen was a rich, fat celebrity and favorite of the upper- and ruling class ("storfolket"), but also Hauge eventually changed his perception.^[10]

Family

As the youngest of four children, Prøysen was very close to his mother Julie. He married Else Storhaug in 1948 and they had two children, a daughter, Elin Julie and a son, Alf Ketil.

Works

• Mrs. Pepperpot, a tiny lady who never knows when she is going to shrink to the size of a teaspoon.
• Musevisa ["The mouse song"]

References

External links

• Biography from Prøysenhuset, a museum dedicated to the artist.
• Biography written by the artist's daughter, Elin Prøysen.
• Mer om Alf Prøysens seksuelle legning – Forfatter Ove Røsbak «rømte landet» etter at han slapp sin Prøysen-biografi i 1992. Nå har han fornyet biografien, gir den ut på nytt og supplerer med opplysninger om forfatterens seksuelle legning. [More about Alf Prøysen's sexual identity – Author Ove Røsbak "fled the country" after he released his Prøysen-biography in 1992. Now he has updated the biography, re-released it with information about Prøysen's sexual identity]