Knut Hamsun

Hanna Astrup LarsenProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 172K words
Chapters: 18

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Knut Hamsun by Hanna Astrup LarsenAuthor: Larsen, Hanna Astrup, 1873-1945,Language: English, Class: PT: Language and Literatures: Germanic, Scandinavian, and Icelandic literatures, Release Date: Jul 16, 2011

Editor's review

This book is an English critical biography of the Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun by Hanna Astrup Larsen, a free e-book from Project Gutenberg. Its value lies not in offering cutting-edge research but in presenting a perspective from the early reception history of Hamsun: the author, Larsen, was herself a translator and introducer of Nordic literature, so the writing balances biographical narrative with analysis of works, making it friendly to readers who wish to learn about Hamsun and his works while avoiding heavy academic monographs. The book covers Hamsun's upbringing, his creative path, and the background of his major works, and can serve as background reading before tackling Hunger, Pan, and other works. Because it was written early, some evaluations inevitably bear the mark of their time, and readers should maintain a critical eye. It is suitable as an introductory read for enthusiasts of foreign literature, as supplementary material for courses on Nordic literature, and for segmented reading during commutes or before sleep.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in foreign literature, especially Nordic literature
Those preparing to read Hamsun's works who wish first to learn about the author's life
Students taking courses in foreign literature or translation who need background materials
Readers who enjoy author biographies and prefer free English-language e-books

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking the latest academic research and contemporary critical perspectives
Professional researchers needing systematic, in-depth textual analysis
Readers sensitive to the era's biases in early critical biographies and unwilling to discriminate among them

Reading tips

Read one of Hamsun's representative works first, then return to the relevant chapters of the critical biography to see how the analysis corresponds to the text.
Mark passages colored by the evaluations of their time and compare them with contemporary materials to form your own judgment.
Use it as a lead into Nordic literature, following the thread to read other writers and works mentioned in the book.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a work by Hamsun or a critical biography about him?

This is an English critical biography of Knut Hamsun written by Hanna Astrup Larsen, a work of author studies, not a novel or poem by Hamsun himself. The book narrates and evaluates his life and creative work and is suitable as background reading before reading Hamsun's works.

Can I read this book if my English is not good?

The book is written in English and dates from an earlier period, with a rather formal style. Readers with average English proficiency may use a dictionary or a parallel translation; if they only wish to learn about Hamsun's life, they may first read relevant Chinese introductions and then selectively consult chapters of this book.

Why might the evaluations in this book be limited by their era?

The author, Larsen, lived from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, and her writing perspective and evaluative standards were influenced by the literary ideas of her time. The book's judgments on the writer and his works may not accord with contemporary research conclusions; readers should discriminate in light of other materials rather than treat them as definitive.

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About the author

Hanna Astrup Larsen Author · Danish · 1873–1945

Hanna Astrup Larsen (1873–1945) was a Danish-American writer, translator, and editor. She devoted herself over many years to introducing Nordic literature to English-language readers, building a bridge between the literary traditions of her native Denmark and the English-speaking world. Her representative work, Knut Hamsun, discusses the life and writings of the Norwegian author and reflects her familiarity with the Nordic literary landscape and her careful critical eye. Beyond her own books, her editorial and translation work likewise centered on Nordic literature, helping more readers encounter Scandinavian writers and their works. Public information about the details of her life is limited, and existing records focus mainly on her contributions as a literary translator and editor. Her work held a certain significance for the dissemination of Nordic literature in the English-speaking world of her time and remains one reference point for understanding the writers and works concerned.