Vinje, Aasmund Olafsson
Vinje, Aasmund Olafsson
(ôs`mo͝on ō`läfs-sôn vĭn`yə), 1818–70, Norwegian essayist and poet. After establishing a reputation as a successful journalist, Vinje earned a law degree. In 1858 he founded Dølen, a periodical intended to promote the use of Nynorsk, New Norwegian. He created the language on the basis of the concepts of linguist Ivar Aasen. Ferdaminni fraa Sumaren 1860 [travel memories from the summer of 1860] (1861) is Vinje's best-known work. His writing is noted for its subtle irony.Vinje, Aasmund Olafsson
Born Apr. 6, 1818, in Vinje (Telemark); died July 30, 1870, in Gran (Hadeland). Norwegian poet and journalist.
After the Revolution of 1848, Vinje joined the workers’ movement. From 1858 he published a journal entitled Dtflen in Landsmal, in which questions of philosophy, literature, politics, and economics were treated from democratic points of view. In his book Reminiscences of a Trip Taken During the Summer of 1860 (1861), Vinje alternated lyrical meditations with realistic scenes from rural life. His romantic narrative poem The Big Fellow (1866) was inspired by folk poetry. Vinje is the author of the antigovernment verse “My Desk” (1870). Many poems by Vinje have been set to music by E. Grieg, E. Alnaes, and others.
WORKS
Diktsamling. Copenhagen, 1864.Lyriske dikt. Oslo, 1910.
REFERENCES
Aasen, I. “A. Vinje.” In his book Skrifter i samling, vol. 2. [Oslo] 1912.Sars, J. E. “A. O. Vinje.” In his book Samlede vaerker, vol. 4. [Oslo] 1912.
Skard, S. A. O. Vinje og antikken. Oslo, 1938.
Jensen, J. M. “A. Vinje.” In his book Norske profiler. Oslo, 1944.