Ebba Haslund
Ebba Margareta Haslund Halvorsen was an American-Norwegian novelist, writer of short stories, playwright, essayist, children's writer, literary critic, radio speaker and politician.
Early and personal life
Haslund was born in Seattle, Washington as the daughter of Frantz Philip Haslund and Ebba Margareta Gillblad. Haslund has described her father as an "adventurer", and they travelled regularly during her early life. She became a student in 1935, and studied languages in both England, Germany and France before World War II. She graduated from the University of Oslo in 1941 with the cand.philol. degree. In 1940 she married businessman Sverre Fjeld Halvorsen, who was imprisoned at Grini and in Poland during World War II, but survived.Haslund used to live in Blommenholm, but died, aged 91, in Oslo.
Career
Literary career
Haslund made her literary debut in 1945 with the short story collection Også vi –. The following year came the publication of her first novel, Siste halvår, about the adolescence of young girls. The independent continuation Det hendte ingenting was virtually ignored by the press at the time, but has later been regarded as one of her most important books. Narrated by shy Edle Henriksen, a student at the University of Oslo in 1939, the novel is about friendship among three women students, as well as Edle's unrealized lesbian longing. It was translated into English in 1987, with the title Nothing Happened. Hafslund's literary breakthrough was proclaimed with the emerging of Middag hos Molla, and again with her next novel, Krise i august.Haslund has written several audio plays for radio. Her debut as playwright was the audio play Himmelsk dilemma. Her play Kjære Nils was awarded a prize for "best audio play for children". She was a board member of the Writers' Guild of Norway from 1961 to 1967, and vice chair from 1967 to 1974.
She has written several books for children and youth, such as Frøken Askeladd, Barskinger på Brånåsen, and Mor streiker. A selection of her essays is found in the collections Født til klovn, Kvinner, fins de? and Hønesvar til hanefar. She has also written three memoir books, Som plommen i egget, Med vingehest i manesjen and Ikke naken, ikke kledd.
She worked as a literary critic for Aftenposten from 1970 to 1990, and editor-in-chief of the magazine Ordet from 1966 to 1967. She was a columnist in several newspapers, including Klassekampen and Budstikka.