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Georg Johannesen

ゲオルグ・ヨハンネセン

Georg Johannesen

Pen Names: Kathy Johns（Used as a pseudonym for the novel 'Mongstad'）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1931-02-22 （Bergen, Norway）
Died
2005-12-24 （Egypt） age 74
Nationality
Norwegian
Languages
Norwegian
Residence History
Bergen, Norway (birthplace and long-term residence) → Oslo, Norway (studies)

Career

Occupations
Author, Professor, Academic
Active Years
1957-2005
Affiliations
University of Bergen, Nordic Institute (University of Bergen)
Influenced By
Bertolt Brecht

Education

Bergen Cathedral School
Period: 〜1949
Year of Graduation: 1949
Country: Norway
Completed secondary education (artium)
University of Oslo
Faculty of Humanities / Literature History
Degree: 修士（文学史）
Period: 1950年代〜1960
Year of Graduation: 1960
Country: Norway
Master's thesis 'Vårmotivet hos Olaf Bull' (on poet Olaf Bull)

Awards

Gyldendal's Endowment
1966
Organization: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Result: 受賞
Diktartavla
1997
Organization: Diktartavla
Result: 受賞
Cappelen Prize
1999
Organization: Cappelen (J.W. Cappelen)
Result: 受賞
Halldis Moren Vesaas Prize
1999
Organization: Halldis Moren Vesaas Prize committee
Result: 受賞
Norwegian Academy Prize in memory of Thorleif Dahl
2000
Organization: Norwegian Academy
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Høst i mars

1957 Novel

A tender love story confronting bourgeois prejudices, ending in tragedy.

loveclass societyprejudice

Dikt 1959

1959 Poetry collection

A collection of poems dealing with temporal subjects.

timeexistence

Ars moriendi

1965 Poetry collection

A formally structured poetry collection inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins of Christianity.

religious motifsmoralitysin and salvation

Nye dikt

1966 Poetry collection

A collection of poems with a stronger political focus.

politicssocial critique

Kassandra

1967 Play

A controversial play criticized as blasphemous at its premiere; a socially critical work.

religious critiquesocial critiqueparadox
Adaptations
  • [Stage (theatre)] Kassandra (performed at Det Norske Teatret) (1967)

Tredje kongebok

1978 Literary work (allegorical)

An allegorical work using paradox and irony to shed light on contemporary Norwegian issues.

allegoryironypolitics

Johannes' bok

1978 Literary work (allegorical)

Like 'Tredje kongebok', a work with allegorical and critical elements.

religious motifssocial critique

Simons bok

1980 Literary work (allegorical)

One of his socially critical works employing paradox and irony.

ironysocial critique

Mongstad

1989 Satirical novel

A satirical novel about Norwegian offshore oil drilling, published under the pseudonym Kathy Johns.

satireenergy industrypolitics

Bibliography

  • Høst i mars (1957)
  • Dikt 1959 (1959)
  • Ars moriendi (1965)
  • Nye dikt (1966)
  • Kassandra (1967)
  • Tredje kongebok (1978)
  • Johannes' bok (1978)
  • Simons bok (1980)
  • Mongstad (1989) (published as Kathy Johns)

Adaptations

  • Kassandra — Performed at Det Norske Teatret (1967)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
use of paradoxironic and satirical tonerhetorical techniques to expose the power of languageBrechtian social critique
Recurring Motifs
ambiguity and exposure of languagereligious motifssatire of society and politicsirony

Legacy

Georg Johannesen is known as a Norwegian poet, playwright and critic whose works examined the power of language and who made contributions to rhetoric. As a university teacher he influenced later generations; his socially critical and ironic style left a mark on contemporary Norwegian literature.

Quotes

  • Language has the power to enshroud truth.
    Source: Essay (source unknown)

Trivia

  • Published 'Mongstad' under the pseudonym Kathy Johns.
  • Drowned while on vacation in Egypt in 2005.
  • Completed artium at Bergen Cathedral School in 1949.
  • Earned a master's degree in Literature History from the University of Oslo in 1960.
  • Served as a professor of rhetoric at the University of Bergen.