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André Bjerke

André Bjerke
André Bjerke ca 1980 (72 dpi).png
Bjerke around 1980
Photo: André Savik
Born Jarl André Bjerke
(1918-01-30)30 January 1918
Kristiania
Died 10 January 1985(1985-01-10) (aged 66)
Oslo
Resting place Oslo
Pen name Bernhard Borge
Occupation Poet, novelist
Language Norwegian
Nationality Norwegian
Genre Poetry, crime fiction, prose
Spouse Henny Moan
Relatives Ejlert Bjerke (father)
Jens Bjørneboe (cousin)

Jarl André Bjerke (born 30 January 1918 in Oslo, died 10 January 1985) was a Norwegian writer and poet. His debut was in 1940 with a collection of poems, Syngende Jord (Singing Earth). He has written a wide range of material: poems (both for children and adults), mystery novels (four of them under the pseudonym Bernhard Borge), essays, and articles. He was known as a master translator, and translated works by Shakespeare, Molière, Goethe, Racine, etc. into elegant Norwegian. A central theme in Bjerke's works, especially his poems, is the longing for childhood. André Bjerke was, together with his equally famous cousin Jens Bjørneboe, also known as a prominent proponent of the Riksmål language during the Norwegian language struggle, and of anthroposophy, especially in the 1950s.

His father was the author Ejlert Bjerke, and his mother Karin Bjerke (née Svensson).

His mystery novels, among the best of the genre in Norwegian, are influenced by his interest in psychoanalysis. His first mystery novel, Nattmennesket ("Night person") was published in 1941. In this novel he introduced his completely different "detective", the psycho analyst Kai Bugge who claims that a psychologist is more able to solve a real crime than a police officer. After a particularly hideous murder, Bugge and his friend, police officer Hammer, joins forces to solve the impossible mystery. Where Hammer looks for material clues and interviews the suspects about things like motive and alibis, Bugge makes an analytical approach and claims after only a third of the book that he has solved the mystery. The murderer has indirectly confessed to the crime.

Nattmennesket was followed by his masterpiece De dødes tjern ("Lake of the Dead") in 1942. It was by the Norwegian radio programme "Nitimen" considered the second best Norwegian mystery novel of all times in 2004, only beaten by Norwegian mystery writer Jo Nesbø's "Rødstrupe" (2000). "Lake of the Dead" was made into a film in 1958, directed by Kåre Bergstrøm. Bjerke himself starred in the film. This novel is also starred by Kai Bugge as detective. This time in sharp opposition to two other present at the scene, the literary critic, Gabriel Mørk, and the policeman, Harald Gran. This novel is nowhere near the classical whodunnit. The three accompanied by Bernhard Borge (the author of the book), his wife and Gran's fiancee visit's the scene of a suicide by drowning. The dead, who is not found because of the ponds rather murky depths, has left a diary. In this he reveals his growing obsession by the pond, which ends with a confession that he has no choice but to commit suicide by drowning himself. This obsession is known in the vicinity through an old tale. During the investigation it turns out that the visitors too are not immune to the forces that abode in the pond. Kai Bugge works hard to solve the riddle – or rather save his friends – before another tragedy occurs.


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