Literature about Jens Bjørneboe's Late Novels
The "History of Bestiality" Trilogy and The Sharks
An annotated bibilography compiled by Esther Greenleaf Mürer

Contents

Trilogy (general)

Moment of Freedom (Frihetens øyeblikk)

Powderhouse (Kruttårnet)

The Silence (Stillheten)

The Sharks (Haiene)

Other novels

---

Includes page references to discussions of individual works in the following general works (bold indicates abbreviation):

Frihet! Sannhet! Temaer i Jens Bjørneboes forfatterskap, ed. Y. R. Otnes. Oslo: Pax, 1977.

Garton, Janet. Jens Bjørneboe: Prophet Without Honor. Contributions to the Study of World Literature, no. 9. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1985.

Hambro, Carl. Jens Bjørneboe, en litterær profil. Oslo: Gyldendal, 1978.

Lem, Steinar. Bjørneboes menneskesyn i "Frihetens øyeblikk" (Bjørneboe's view of man in Moment of Freedom) Oslo: Aschehoug, 1981.

Martin, Joe. Keeper of the Protocols : The Works of Jens Bjørneboe in the Crosscurrents of Western Literature. American University Studies. Series I, Germanic Languages and Literatures, vol. 108. New York: Peter Lang, 1996.

Otnes, Yngvild Risdal. Bjørneboe. Norske forfattere i nærlys. 2. Oslo: Aschehoug, 1974.

Tharaldsen, Ottil. Kvinnesyn og mannsrolle i fire romaner av Jens Bjørneboe (View of woman and man's role in four novels of JB) Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 1977.

Wandrup, Fredrik. Jens Bjørneboe : mannen, myten og kunsten (Jens Bjørneboe: the man, the myth, the art) Oslo: Gyldendal, 1984.

---

Trilogy (popularly known as "The History of Bestiality.")

General references

Bjørneboe, Bjørn. Afterword to Mitt Hjerte, by Jens Bjørneboe, 132-141. Oslo: Pax, 1995. Poems selected and with illustrations by Bjørn Bjørneboe, who sees the trilogy as a continuation of JB's activity as a poet.

Engelstad, Carl Fredrik. "Jens Bjørneboes Trilogie" (JB's trilogy), Ausblick, Zeitschrift für Deutsch- Skandinavische Beziehungen ( Lübeck) 33 (1983), no. 1-2: 6-8

Garton, Chapter 8 (87-103).

Gulliksen, Øyvind. "Bjørneboe og Amerika." Norsk Litterær Årbok 1976, Edited by Leif Mæhle, 157-169. Oslo: Det norske samlaget, 1976. Traces JB's growing disillusionment with America and the corruption of the American ideal of freedom. Material drawn mainly from Norway, my Norway, We Who loved America, and the trilogy. JB's affinities with Melville, Hemingway, Henry Miller. In New Norwegian.        English translation

Haavardsholm, Espen. "Av jorden har vi gjort et slakterhus" (Of the earth we have made a slaughterhouse). In Forfatternes litteraturhistorie, edited by Kjell Heggelund, Simen Skjønsberg, and Helge Vold, v. 4. Oslo: Gyldendal, 1981. Reprinted under the title "Jens Bjørneboe" in the author's Essays i utvalg (Oslo: Forlaget Oktober, 1996), 15-32. Another novelist's evaluation of JB's achievement. Concentrates mainly on the last novels. JB's work combines impulses from diametrically opposed ideologies, but temperamentally he is closest to the Christiania-bohême from the 1880s. He never solved the dilemmas that haunt his last works. (JG)

Halvorsen, Sissel. "Samfunnskritikk og metafysikk: Noen tanker om inholdet i Frihetens øyeblikk, Kruttårnet og Stillheten" (Social criticism and metaphysics: some thoughtson the content in Moment of Freedom, Powderhouse and The Silence). In Frihet! Sannhet! 34-49.

Hambro, Chapter 10 (110-46).

Helseth, Oluf. "Bestialitetens historie : et vendepunkt i Jens Bjørneboes forfatterskap" ("The History of Bestiality": a turning point in Jens Bjørneboe's authorship). Dissertation. Univ. of Trondheim, 1976.

Kern, Gary. "Bjørneboe's great failure: The History of Bestiality". In Genre at the Crossroads: The Challenge of Fantasy, ed. George Slusser and Jean-Pierre Barricelli, 198-222. Riverside, CA: Xenos, 2003. The three parts of the trilogy are astonishing works of genius, "which by breaking rules and crossing over borders convey more passion and force of personality than whole schools of neat and proper writers"; all fail as novels because Bjørneboe dared to attempt the impossible.     Excerpt

Kierulf, Halfdan. "Synet på sykdom i Jens Bjørneboes diktning" (The vision of sickness in JB's writings). In Foredrag fra VII. nordiske kongress for medisinsk historie, edited by Ø. Larsen., 151-7. Oslo: Seksjon for medisinsk historie, Universitet i Oslo, 1979.. An analysis of JB's descriptions of sickness, which confirms his claim that our society makes us ill. (JG)        English translation

Kierulf, Halfdan. "Jens Bjørneboe: sykdom som hudløs smerte, rik metafor og uløselig metafysisk problem" (JB: sickness as raw pain, rich metaphor and insoluble metaphysical problem). Gyldendals aktuelle magasin no.1-2 (1980): 113-116.

Knudsen, Terje."Frigjøring eller flukt. Synspunkter på fortellerholdning og normsystem i Jens Bjørneboes trilogi Frihetens øyeblikk, Kruttårnet og Stillheten" (Liberation or flight: aspects of the narrator's attitude and norm system in JB's trilogy ...). Dissertation. Univ. of Oslo, 1977.

Kristiansen, Inge S. Jens Bjørneboe og Antroposofien; en analyse av esoteriske og mytologiske motiver med hovedvekt på det sene forfatterskapet (JB and anthroposophy; an analysis of esoteric and mythological motifs with emphasis on the later works). Oslo: Solum, 1989. A brief introduction to Rudolf Steiner's thought followed by a detailed interpretation of anthroposophical themes in Bjørneboe's last four novels, particularly Moment of Freedom.

Martin, Chapter 3 (41-84).

Mjøset, Lars.. "`En kjøligere verdensanskuelse'. Siste utkast om Jens Bjørneboe" ("A cooler view of the world": last draft about JB). In Linjer i nordisk prosa. Norge 1965-1975, edited by Helge Rønning, 49-74. Oslo: Pax, 1977. An extended essay on the trilogy and The Sharks. JB never really understands that it is the divisions in the capitalist system that are the root cause of injustice in the world, and therefore remains trapped in a bourgeois ideology. (JG)

Thon, Jahn."Noko nytt må bli skapt. Historiesyn i noen av bøkene til Jens Bjørneboe, Dag Solstad and Gunnar Lunde. Del 1." (Something new must be created. The view of history in some of the books of JB, Dag Solstad and Gunnar Lunde. Part I). Profil, no. 5 (1979): 11-17. Concentrates on the development of JB's writing during the period 1966-76. Emphasizes the paradoxes and contradictions in the trilogy and in JB's view of society in general.

Wandrup, Chapters 14-18 (143-86).

---

Frihetens øyeblikk (Moment of Freedom). Oslo: Gyldendal, 1966.

Aarnes, Sigurd Aa."'Det ondes problem'. Nazismen i Jens Bjørneboes dikting." In Nazismen og norsk litteratur. 2. utg., ed by Bjarte Birkeland et al., 365-387. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget, 1995. JB's depiction of Nazism and preoccupation with Germany, with particular reference to Ere the Cock Crows, Under a Harder Heaven, The Bird Lovers, and Moment of Freedom.

"The Problem of Evil"—Nazism in Jens Bjørneboe's writing. Translated by John Weinstock . In The Nordic Mind: Current Trends in Scandinavian Literary Criticism, edited. by Frank Egholm Andersen and John Weinstock. 223-50. Lanham MD: University Presses of America, 1986. Translation of the foregoing (1st ed, 1975).

Berg, Øyvind. "Lyset i steinene" (Light in the stones). Vinduet 40(1986), no 2:26-28.

Bjøndal, Jan."Sannheten—døden—friheten. Sentrale motiver i Jens Bjørneboes Hertug Hans og Frihetens øyeblikk" (Truth, death, freedom: central motifs in JB's Duke Hans and Moment of Freedom). In I diktningens brennpunkt, edited by Rolf Nyboe Nettum, 131-149. Oslo: Aschehoug, 1982.

Garton, 87-94.

Hambro, 110-21.

Hovland, Thor Halvor. 1978. "Jens Bjørneboe: det onde ved mennesket og menneskets frihet" (JB: the evil and man and human freedom). Kirke og kultur, 83:365-376. The anthroposophical background to JB's writing. Takes central themes in JB's works the link between evil and man's animal nature; between fear, death, and freedom; the sun and draws parallels with Steiner's writings. Concludes that JB failed to conquer evil because it fascinated him. (JG)

Kern, Gary. Excerpt from "Bjørneboe's great failure: The History of Bestiality". (See full listing under Trilogy.)

Kreutzer, Helmut. "Existentielle Prosa, spiritueller Anarchismus: zum Augenblick der Freiheit von Jens Bjørneboe" (Existential prose, spiritual anarchism: on Moment of Freedom by JB). In Probleme des Erzahlens in der Weltliteratur (Narrative problems in world literature): Festschrift fur Kate Hamburger zum 75. Geburtstag, ed. Fritz Martini, 348-64. Stuttgart: Klett, 1971.

Kristiansen, Inge S. Jens Bjørneboe og Antroposofien. Oslo: Solum, 1989. See listing under Trilogy.

Langeland, Wenche. "Samvittighet på ville veier? : en analyse av Jens Bjørneboes roman Frihetens øyeblikk" (Conscience on wild paths? an analysis of Moment of Freedom) Dissertation. Univ. of Oslo, 1990.

Lem, Steinar. Bjørneboes menneskesyn i "Frihetens øyeblikk" (Bjørneboe's view of man in Moment of Freedom) Oslo: Aschehoug, 1981.

Longum, Leif. Et speil for oss selv. Menneskesyn og virkelighetsoppfatning i norsk etterkrigsprosa (A mirror for ourselves: View of man and conception of reality in postwar Norwegian prose), 231-238. Oslo: Aschehoug, 1968.         English translation

Longum, Leif. "Jens Bjørneboe and the Laughter of Tuscany." In I rapporti tra Italia e Europa del nord nella letteratura e nell'arte. Giornate scandinavie 3-5 maggio 1989, edited by Randi Langen Moen, 127-136. . Bologna: Universita di Bologna, 1992. The role of Italy in JB's work.

Martin, 43-64.

Moen, Kirsten. "Frihetens øyeblikk av Jens Bjørneboe - en okkult roman?" (Moment of Freedom—an occult novel?) Dissertation. Univ. of Oslo, 1993.

Monsen, Sverre. "Fiksjon og virkelighet. En undersøkelse av menneskenes eksistensielle situasjon slik den kommer fram i Jens Bjørneboes bok Frihetens øyeblikk" (Fiction and reality: an investigation of humanity's existential situation as it emerges in Moment of Freedom.) Dissertation. Univ. of Bergen, 1968.

Mürer, Esther Greenleaf. "Translator's introduction." Moment of Freedom by Jens Bjørneboe, 1-9. Chester Springs, PA: Dufour Editions and Norwich: Norvik Pr., 1999.

Mussari, Mark. Farvens klang: Color Spaces in Strindberg, Branner, Dinessen and Bjørneboe. PhD. Dissertation, Univ of Washington, 1999. Includes a chapter "Color: the Material of Immateriality in Bjørneboe's Frihetens øyeblikk and Blåmann."

Otnes, 49-62.

Sætre, Solveig. "Jens Bjørneboes totalitetspersektiv" (JB's holistic perspective). Vinduet, 1968, 4:265-272. JB's attitude toward evil and freedom is basically contemplative, not conducive to action.

Tharaldsen, 83-5.

Thon, Jahn."Noko nytt må bli skapt." (Something new must be created). Profil, no. 5 (1979): 13-15. See listing under Trilogy.

Wandrup Ch 14 (143-51), 16 (160-72)

---

Kruttårnet. Powderhouse). Oslo: Gyldendal, 1969.

Garton, 94-99

Hambro, 122-131.

Hansen, Harry. "Blod, dritt, vind og sterner: om Jens Bjørneboe og anarkismen" (Blood, shit, wind and stars: on JB and anarchism). In Frihet! Sannhet! 71-80.

Kern, Gary. Excerpt from "Bjørneboe's great failure: The History of Bestiality". (See full listing under Trilogy.)

Lem, 64f.

Martin, 64-74.

Mürer, Esther Greenleaf. Notes on the genesis of Powderhouse. Text of JB's 1959 sketch for a "New Major Work," with commentary.

Mürer, Esther Greenleaf. "Translator's introduction." Powderhouse by Jens Bjørneboe, 1-9. Chester Springs, PA: Dufour Editions and Norwich: Norvik Press, 2000.

Wandrup 152f, 173-7.

---

Stillheten (The Silence). Oslo: Gyldendal, 1973.

Garton, 99-103.

Hambro, 133-46.

Kern, Gary. Excerpt from "Bjørneboe's great failure: The History of Bestiality". (See full listing under Trilogy.)

Lem , 65-8.

Martin, 74-82.

Mürer, Esther Greenleaf. Translator's introduction. The Silence by Jens Bjørneboe. 1-9. Chester Springs, PA: Dufour Editions and Norwich: Norvik Press, 2000.

Thon, Jahn."Noko nytt må bli skapt." (Something new must be created). Profil, no. 5 (1979): 15-17. See listing under Trilogy.    English translation

Wandrup 153-9, 177-81.

---

Haiene (The Sharks). Oslo: Gyldendal, 1974.

Aase, Laila. Om "Haiene" av Jens Bjørneboe. Veier til verket. Oslo: Karnovs Forlag, 1996.. Study guide to The Sharks.

Fjeldset, Gunn. "Repetisjonens problem : en retorisk lesning av Jens Bjørneboes Haiene" (The probem of repetition: a rhetorical reading of The Sharks). Dissertation, Univ. of Trondheim, 1990.

Fløgstad, Kjartan.. "Med dekksplankar som jordskorpe : Jens Bjørneboes Haiene" (With deck planks as earth's crust: JB's The Sharks). In Frihet! Sannhet! 81-86. First published in Syn og segn 81(1975): 130-135. In New Norwegian.

Garton, 105-113.

Hambro,. Chapter 11 (147-56).

Hansen, Roger Helge. "Haiene: en fortolkning av Jens Bjørneboes roman" (The Sharks: an interpretation...). Dissertation, Univ. of Trondheim, 1977.

Hauge, Alfred."'Navigare necesse est': Synspunkt på Jens Bjørneboes Haiene" ("It is necessary to navigate": a view of JB's The Sharks). In Frihet! Sannhet! 87-97. First published in Vinduet (1975):136-145. In New Norwegian. A look at astrological motifs in The Sharks.

Hoff, Jane Lund. "Haiene av Bjørneboe i skolen: tekst/leser-prosess og et undervisningsopplegg" (The Sharks in the school: text/reader process and a study guide). Dissertation, Univ. of Trondheim, 1987.

Kaasen, Tine. "Flaskeskipet - og kritikerne" (The ship in the bottle -- and the critics). Samtiden 88 (1979), no.3:39-45. Takes issue with the universal critical acclaim awarded to The Sharks and argues that it is full of confusion and cliches. (JG)

Kristiansen, Inge S. Jens Bjørneboe og Antroposofien (JB and anthroposophy). Oslo: Solum, 1989. See listing under Trilogy.

Lem, 68-71.

Martin, 137-146.

Mjøset, Lars. "`En kjøligere verdensanskuelse'. Siste utkast om Jens Bjørneboe" ("A cooler view of the world": last draft about JB). In Linjer i nordisk prosa. Norge 1965-1975, edited by. Helge Rønning, 49-74. Oslo: Pax, 1977. (See note under Trilogy.)

Sandsten, Wenche. "Finnes det en tematisk enhet i Jens Bjørneboes roman Haiene?" (Is there a thematic unity in The Sharks?) Dissertation, Univ. of Oslo, 1981.

Schultz, Elizabeth A. The trembling balance in Jens Bjørneboe's The Sharks. Review by a Melville scholar.

Smidt, Jon. Styrmannen og mannskapet. Om "lærertekst" og "elevtekst" i en skoleklasses arbeid med Jens Bjørneboes roman "Haiene." (The skipper and the crew: on "teacher's text" and "pupil's text" in a school class's work with JB's The Sharks). LNUs skriftserie, 30. Oslo: Landslaget for norskundervisning / Cappelen, 1986.

Tharaldsen, 86-8.

Wandrup, Chapter 24 (233-44).