Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson

A century ago today, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson passed away.

He was a republican, and Henrik Ibsen once wrote of him that he believed the majority to be in the right, and that he perhaps had to believe so because he was a politician.

Bjørnson has, however, greatly contributed to our literary heritage, and he was the founder of Riksmålsforbundet.

When the form of government was on the agenda in 1905, Bjørnson was convinced – largely by his son-in-law Sigurd Ibsen – to work for retaining the monarchy.