Bernt Lie

Bernt Lie was born in Mandal, Norway, as a son of a stipendiary magistrate and a niece of a bishop. He was a nephew of the famous writer Jonas Lie and a cousin of several other prominent figures in Norwegian literature, art, and politics. He moved with his family to different cities in Norway, including Trondheim, Oslo, and Tromsø, where he finished his secondary education. He studied law at the University of Oslo and graduated in 1891. He married Hedvig Mariboe Aubert, a daughter of a professor, in 1894 and had two children, Emil and Didi. Emil became a sculptor and Didi married Arne Sunde, a Supreme Court Justice and a diplomat. Bernt Lie started his literary career in 1892 with his debut novel I Æventyrland (In Adventure Land), a travelogue based on his experiences in Italy. He wrote several novels, mostly in the genre of historical fiction, adventure, and romance. His most acclaimed work was Mot Overmagt (Against Superior Force), published in 1907, which depicted the Norwegian resistance against the Swedish rule in the 19th century. He also wrote four boys' books, Sorte Ørn (Black Eagle), Svend Bidevind (Svend Against the Wind), Peter Napoleon (Peter Napoleon), and Guttedage (Boyhood Days), which were popular among young readers and influenced by his own childhood memories. He was one of the most widely read authors in his time and received several literary awards and honors. He lived abroad for many years, mainly in Rome, where he was inspired by the classical culture and history. He returned to Norway in 1910 and settled in Lillehammer. He died in 1916 in Sandefjord, shortly after his 48th birthday, and was buried in Tromsø. He left behind a legacy of novels that reflected his love for his country, his people, and his adventurous spirit.