Herman Wildenvey facts for kids
Herman Wildenvey (born Herman Theodor Portaas) was a very important Norwegian poet in the 1900s. He was born on July 20, 1885, and passed away on September 27, 1959. During his life, he wrote 44 books of his own poems. He also translated books by famous writers like William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, and Heinrich Heine. Herman Wildenvey was married to the novelist Gisken Wildenvey.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Herman Wildenvey was born in Mjøndalen, a town near Drammen in Buskerud, Norway. His childhood home was called Portåsen. This is where he got his first surname, Portaas.
In 1904, Herman moved to the United States. However, he came back to Norway in the summer of 1906. On his way back, he was on a ship called the SS Norge. This ship unfortunately ran aground near Rockall in the North Atlantic Ocean. Many people lost their lives in this accident. Herman Wildenvey was one of the 160 people who survived the shipwreck. He spent several days in an open lifeboat before being rescued.
Life as a Poet
In 1912, Herman married Jonette Kramer Andreassen, who later became known as Gisken Wildenvey. She was 19 years old at the time. In 1929, they officially changed their shared last name to Wildenvey.
From 1913 to 1922, Herman and Gisken lived in Copenhagen, Denmark. But Herman also spent a lot of time in Kristiania, which is now called Oslo.
Settling in Stavern
After living in Oslo and Copenhagen for some years, the couple moved to the small coastal town of Stavern in 1923. They built their home there in 1927 and named it Hergisheim. Herman and Gisken lived in Hergisheim for the rest of their lives.
Herman Wildenvey received several honors for his writing. In 1935, he won the Gyldendal's Endowment, which is an important literary award. In 1955, just four years before he passed away, he was given the title of Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav. This was a special recognition for his amazing poetry.
Herman Wildenvey died in his home town of Stavern. He was buried in Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo.
Wildenvey's Legacy
Today, Herman Wildenvey's childhood home, Portåsen in Mjøndalen, is a museum. It celebrates his life and his writing. Portåsen, Wildenveys rike is now a cultural center. It is a place where local and national artists can meet and perform. The site has a newly fixed farmhouse and other farm buildings. The Portåsen Foundation works to develop Portåsen. It also works with the Buskerud Museum to help protect the cultural heritage of Buskerud.
Herman Wildenvey Poetry Award
The Wildenvey Society gives out the Herman Wildenvey Poetry Award every year. This award is given on July 20, which is Herman Wildenvey's birthday. The event takes place at Hergisheim, his former home in Stavern. The award includes a special bronze plaque. The prize is given to a person or group that has helped people become more interested in Herman Wildenvey's poems.
See also
In Spanish: Herman Wildenvey para niños
