Johan Borgen (born 1902) is the largest figure in modern Norwegian literature. It is difficult to overestimate the role he played for more than half a century in the spiritual life of his country. Regular cooperation in the press, especially in the left-wing radical newspaper Dagbladet, theatrical productions and television programs, active work on the radio: radio plays and performances in the weekly Sunday program (especially dear to Borgen because he feels like a living interlocutor with people
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Johan Borgen (born 1902) is the largest figure in modern Norwegian literature. It is difficult to overestimate the role he played for more than half a century in the spiritual life of his country. Regular cooperation in the press, especially in the left-wing radical newspaper Dagbladet, theatrical productions and television programs, active work on the radio: radio plays and performances in the weekly Sunday program (especially dear to Borgen because he feels like a living interlocutor with people in the remotest corners of Norway) are just some aspects of Borgen’s creative activity. And the main thing is, of course, books created by the writer, books in which his skill manifested itself in a variety of genres: novels, novels, dramas, journalistic articles, essays, feuilletons. . .
Johan Borgen was born in Christiania. His childhood took place in one of the fashionable districts of the city - Westkant. Impressions and reflections associated with the respectable bourgeois environment to which the writer belonged and from which he subsequently sought to break away, formed the basis of his work.
Borgen’s literary activity began with journalism, a commitment to which he retained for life, considering it both fascinating and important for honing his writing skills. As a writer-fiction writer, he debuted a collection of short stories “Into the Darkness” (1925), written in the stylistic manner of Hamsun and telling about the loneliness and tragic delusions of man. A more mature work, in which the main problems of Borgen's further work have already been outlined, was the novel "If we sum up" (1934). It contains a caustic satire on the hypocritical morality of bourgeois society, combined with deep reflections on the human person and the meaning of his spiritual quest.
In 1947, as part of the first post-war Norwegian delegation of cultural figures, the writer visited the Soviet Union and was one of the authors of the book From Leningrad to Armenia (1947). In recent years, Borgen has shown interest in our country and has done much to popularize both Russian classics and contemporary Soviet writers in Norway.
The fame of Johan Borgen long ago crossed the borders of Scandinavia and became not only European, but also world. Borgen's books have been published in many countries. In 1968, the novel “Little Lord” was published in Russian, Borgen’s novels were published in anthologies and magazines, and his play “The Little One” was included in the radio play collection “On the Side”.
In the books of Johan Borgen – anxiety for the fate of all mankind, each individual. They believe that everything that happens on earth, big or small, affects everyone and is responsible for them. Everything is connected in the world, and Norway, Scandinavia are not an idyllic island among the storms raging on the globe, as it sometimes seems to a well-fed layman. The Borgen is called the conscience of the nation. When he won the Nordic Council Award for his collection of New Novels (1967), the Dagbladet correspondent asked him what he wanted for himself besides the prize. Borgen replied, “My only wish is that there should be peace on earth.” And this noble goal is served by the whole life and work of a humanist writer.
Eleanor Pankratova