André Bjerke

Jarl André Bjerke was a Norwegian writer and poet. He was born January 30, 1918 in Oslo, and died January 10 1985.His father was the author Ejlert Bjerke, and his mother Karin Bjerke (née Svensson). His cousin was the well-known author Jens Bjørneboe.His debut was in 1940 with a collection of poems, "Syngende Jord" (Singing Earth). He has written a wide range of material: poems (both for children and adults), mystery novels (under the pseudonym Bernhard Borge), essays, and articles. He was known as a master translator, and translated works by Shakespeare, Molière, Goethe, Racine, etc. into elegant Norwegian. A central theme in Bjerke's works, especially his poems, is the longing for childhood.

His mystery novels, among the best of the genre in Norwegian, are influenced by his interest in psychoanalysis. His first mystery novel, Nattmennesket ("Night person") was published in 1941, followed by his masterpiece De dødes tjern ("Lake of the Dead") in 1942. It was by the Norwegian radio programme "Nitimen" considered the second best Norwegian mystery novel of all times in 2004, only beaten by Norwegian myster writer Jo Nesbø's "Rødstrupe" (2000). "Lake of the Dead" was made into a film in 1958, directed by Kåre Bergstrøm. Bjerke himself starred in the film. Other mystery novels include "Døde menn går i land" ("Dead Men Come Ashore") in 1947, and "Skjult Mønster" ("Hidden Pattern") in 1950. Bjerke also published two collections of mystery short stories in 1970, titled "Onkel Oscar starter opp" ("Uncle Oscar Starts Up") and "Onkel Oscar kjører videre" ("Uncle Oscar Drives On").

He was the co-host of the television show I grenseland ("In the borderland") in 1973. This was the first television show dedicated to investigating paranormal phenomena.

André Bjerke was an excellent chess player, and has written several essays about the history and culture of chess. One of his chess books, "Spillet i mitt liv" ("The game in my life") written between 1968 and 1975, was considered chess book of the century in an informal poll held by the Norwegian chess federation in 1999. ["Norsk Sjakkblad" nr 1, 2000]

After a debilitating stroke in 1981, he was bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Bjerke was married to the actress Henny Moan. Together they had a daughter, Vilde, who wrote a book about her father, "Du visste om et land. Om min far André Bjerke" ("You knew of a country. About my father André Bjerke") in 2002.

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