The Hamsun-Society:

Norway's largest literary society!

Who is behind the Society?
Behind the Society one will find a number of Norway's most important culture devoted collaborators, together with Den Norske Forfatterforening, (The Norwegian Pen-club), Den Norske Bokklubben (The Norwegian Book-club) and Gyldendal Norsk Forlag (the publishing house Gyldendal).

The Hamsun-Society was founded 11. August 1988 during the festival "The Hamsun Days" in Hamarøy, northern Norway.

Under the national Hamsun-Society based in Hamarøy 3 local branches ( in Grimstad, Lom and Oslo) was founded, working on Hamsun-related projects based on local resources and interests.

What are the objects of the Hamsun-Society?

 - to propagate knowledge about the author Knut Hamsun and his works,

 - to create interest in Hamsun's art nationally and internationally,

 - to stimulate continuous research and debate on Hamsun's works.

Activities and initiatives of the Hamsun-Society:

Events
The Hamsun-Society is promoting cultural and literary festivals on Hamsun. Since it's founding in 1988 the Society has organised or participated in a large number of national and international seminars, concerts, meetings and exhibitions.

Literary seminar
The Hamsun-Society is responsible for the traditional literary seminar during the Hamsun festival, that takes place every second year in Hamarøy, northern Norway. The lectures given are published in the series of publications from the Hamsun-Society.

Scholarship
The Society has successfully initiated the creation of a foundation for artists and literary researchers. The Hamsun-Society bursary is awarded every second year.

Price winners are:             

1992 Tove Karoline Knutsen                                                                                  1994 Lars Frode Larsen                                                                                        1996 Hamarøy Teaterlag                                                                                             1998 Harald S. Næss                                                                                            2000 Régis Boyer                                                                                                 2002 Nils Magne Knutsen
2004 Kirsten Hedvig Rasmussen
2006 Frydenlund videregående Skole, Narvik
2008 Eleonora Pankratova
2010 Hamarøy sentralskole

Publications
An important task for the Hamsun-Society is the publishing of new books and articles on Hamsun but also the publishing of older, important but no longer available books. New books are in preparation. New publications are sent automatically to the members of the Society for free.

"Hamsun-Nytt" - The Hamsun-Society News
Members of the Hamsun-Society receives at regular intervals the News for free. The Hamsun-News contains information on activities and events around Hamsun and his works as well as news in the literary research.