Arnljot Eggen facts for kids

Arnljot Eggen (born August 13, 1923 – died February 4, 2009) was a Norwegian journalist, teacher, and poet. He also wrote exciting plays and wonderful books for children.

Arnljot Eggen: Writer and Teacher

Arnljot Eggen was a talented Norwegian writer who lived from 1923 to 2009. He was known for his poetry, plays, and especially his books for young readers. He wrote in both main forms of written Norwegian, called Bokmål and Nynorsk.

Early Life and Education

Arnljot Eggen was born in Tolga, a place in Hedmark, Norway. He grew up in a small mountain village named Ålen. His father was a tradesman, which means he bought and sold goods. Arnljot finished high school in 1944. His plans for more schooling were put on hold because of the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II. In 1949, he married Esther Louise Eriksen, who was a nurse. He passed away in Oslo in 2009.

A Career in Words

Arnljot Eggen first dreamed of becoming a journalist. He worked for a short time at local newspapers like Østerdølen and Fjell-Ljom. But from 1950, he started working as a teacher in primary schools. He taught in places like Vinstra and Vardal, and later in Bærum. From 1960 to 1965, he worked at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in Bygdøy.

Writing for Children

Eggen started his writing career in 1951 with a book of poems called Eld og is. He became famous for his children's book Den lange streiken. For this book, he won the important Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature. He also received the Melsom Prize in 1971 for his songbook Bakside-viser. He won the Melsom Prize again in 1995 for another poetry collection. In 1985, he was given the Dobloug Prize for all his amazing writing.

A Voice for Change

In the 1970s, Arnljot Eggen became involved with a political group that focused on workers' rights. He was seen as one of Norway's top poets who wrote about social issues. He was also a pioneer in what is called political theatre. This means he wrote plays that explored important social and political topics. His most famous play of this kind was Pendlerne from 1973. He also wrote a regular column in a left-wing newspaper called Klassekampen.

Awards and Recognition

Arnljot Eggen received several important awards for his contributions to Norwegian literature:

• Melsom Prize – 1971
• Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature – 1981
• Dobloug Prize (shared with Bergljot Hobæk Haff) – 1985