- Christen Pram
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Christen Henriksen Pram (4 September 1756 – 28 November 1821) was a Norwegian/Danish economist, civil servant, poet, novelist, playwright, diarist and magazine editor. He is held as the first Norwegian novelist.
Personal life
He was born in Lesja, a son of Minister Henrik Frederik Pram and Olava Maria de Stockfleth. When he was eight years old, he moved with his family to Denmark, when his father assumed a position as vicar in Sjælland. He married Maria Magdalena Erichsen in 1782. He died at the island Saint Thomas of the Virgin Islands in 1821.[1]
Career
Pram was an enthusiastic member of the Norwegian Society in Copenhagen, and assumed various positions in Commercekollegiet, where he was appointed in 1981.[1] He made his literary breakthrough in 1782, with the poem "Emilias Kilde".[2] His best known literary work is the epic circle of poems Stærkodder from 1785,[3] based on the legendary hero Starkaðr from Saxo Grammaticus' monumental work Gesta Danorum. He co-founded and co-edited the cultural magazine Minerva from 1785, in cooperation with Knud Lyne Rahbek.[1] He was the sole editor of Minerva from 1789, but after having received pronounced warnings due to his enthusiasm of the French Revolution, he resigned as editor in 1793.[2]
He is regarded as the first Norwegian novelist.[1] Among his novels are Jørgen, en Dosmers Levnedsbeskrivelse and Hans Kruuskop from 1786, and John Thral. Bidrag til Frihedens Historie from 1787.[1] He wrote the comedy Ægteskabsskolen from 1795. In 1795 he also delivered a prize-winning contribution to the preparations for a universtity in Norway.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Nettum, Rolf Nyboe. "Christen Pram". In Helle, Knut (in Norwegian). Norsk biografisk leksikon. Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Christen_Pram/utdypning. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ a b Heggelund, Kjell (1974). Beyer, Edvard. ed (in Norwegian). Fra runene til Det Norske Selskab. Unionstiden med Danmark. Norges Litteraturhistorie. 1. Oslo: Cappelen. pp. 612–614. ISBN 82-02-02992-9.
- ^ Henriksen, Petter, ed. "Christen Henriksen Pram" (in Norwegian). Store norske leksikon. Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. http://www.snl.no/Christen_Henriksen_Pram. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
Categories:- 1756 births
- 1821 deaths
- People from Oppland
- Norwegian poets
- Norwegian novelists
- Norwegian diarists
- Danish poets
- Danish novelists
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