Jonas Lie

Jonas Lauritz Idemil Lie (1833 - 1908) was a Norwegian novelist, poet and playwright who is considered to have been one of the Four Greats of 19th century Norwegian literature, together with Henrik Ibsen, Bjornstjerne Bjornson and Alexander Kielland. He graduated in law in 1857 and shortly afterwards began to practice at Kongsvinger, a town located between Lake Mjosa and the border with Sweden. Clients were not numerous at Kongsvinger and Lie found time to write for the newspapers and became a...See more

Jonas Lauritz Idemil Lie (1833 - 1908) was a Norwegian novelist, poet and playwright who is considered to have been one of the Four Greats of 19th century Norwegian literature, together with Henrik Ibsen, Bjornstjerne Bjornson and Alexander Kielland. He graduated in law in 1857 and shortly afterwards began to practice at Kongsvinger, a town located between Lake Mjosa and the border with Sweden. Clients were not numerous at Kongsvinger and Lie found time to write for the newspapers and became a frequent contributor to some of the Christiania journals. His first work was a volume of poems which appeared in 1866 and was not successful. During the four following years he devoted himself almost exclusively to journalism, working hard and without much reward, but acquiring the pen of a ready writer and obtaining command of a style which has proved serviceable in his subsequent career. See less