The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-08-06
KNUT HAMsUN

One of the most interesting figures
among the Scandinavian writer's is
Knut Hamsun, real name - Knut
Petersen = who was born August 4.
1860. To Hamsun love is transcen-
dental and his creations in literature
deal with unusual sexual problems. In
style he inclines toward the Russian
school of fiction. His novels are pow
erful although there is little plot to
them. The great cosnic motif which
underlies his tales is the effect OF
love on various characters.
Knut Hamsun was the son of a
poor farmer in Hudbrandsdal, Nor
way. His education was very limited
he only having attended elementary
school. Working as a farmland and
cobbler's apprentice his constant de-
sire was to become q minister and to
write books and poetry. Without even
understanding the rudfments of writ
ing he wrote several poems and one
of, them was published by a country
newspaper. Encouraged by this sue
cess he became convinced that his
future lay in literature. He had al
ways dreamed OF America as the,
promised land and accordingly he OBJ
tanned employment on a freight YES
sci bound for the United States. With
great expectations the future writer
arrived in New York. There he had
intended to earn living, lecturing to
the Norwegians. This, however, he
found impossible to do and even
position as a working man was denied
him. Without knowing a. word of
English his disillusionment regarding
America was intense. He was glad to
get a free ticket to Scandinavian
colony in Minnesota. There he work
ed for g year as farm hand at
salary of $500 a week. The labor
was far harder there than at home
and being disappointed in his strug-
gle to rise in America, he returned
home in 1886. Arriving in Christi
ana, he obtained a job as a carpenter
and house painter. During his spare
time he wrote many stories and at
length had one of them published in
a small weekly paper.
America still .lured Hamsun and
with new hopes he made a seconod
trip to the land of freedom. This time
| he had provided himself with many
| letters of introduction to promine nt
countrymen in New York. In the
| great metropolis he failed once more
| to obtain a congenia1 position He
| then went to Minnesota and applied
| to Prof. Rasmus Petersen for assist
! ance in launching his proposed lee
| turing tour. The professor, how
| ever, informed the young man that
| he would have trouble in finding any
| one to lecture owing to the fact that
| he had no special education and was
| nothing but a simple working man.
| and after holding a number of jobs
! finally obtained the position of a
/ street car conductor in Chicago.
The he wrote the story which made
his literary reputation. It appeared
| under the name Hunger and is a
recital of his hardships and priva-
! tons. He submitted the first chapter
I of it to a newspaper whose Sunday
editor at once realized it's forceful-
! ness. Published in the magazine
section chapter by chapter it at once
created stir in literary circles. The
| story was later republished in book
| form. From it Hamsun was accord
| ed high recognition. He then wrote
'"The Spiritual Life in America a
| collection of sketches of hi views and
| experiences in the new world. This
book was written in a bitter key, de-
| nouncing the commercialism and
| shal1owness of America.
| 1t is, however. little to be wondered
at considering his hard struggle te
| Hamsun Should view conditions in
| this country through dark glasses
He had a hard bitter struggle such az
| his ultimate success denotes conclu
/ Hamsun departed is high dudgeoI
sively the sterling mettle of the man.