CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH

Childhood and youth: But it was the children in all sorts of blue and red and yellow and black and gray clothes that dominated. There were perhaps twenty of them, beautiful children, mostly little girls, some of them big and already in love, they walked with the big boys. A daughter of the pharmacist was surrounded, she sat on a box and had a reception. (Ringen sulttet, 1936)

There are few depictions of children and young people in Hamsun's writings where the child is given his own perspective. Important exceptions are Victoria (1898) and The Ring is Broken .

Although children are rarely given their own perspective and voice, they are frequently and positively portrayed as markers of various family relationships.

In articles and essays, Hamsun became strongly involved as an advocate for children, including in the so-called "Child Murder Debate" in 1915.

Hamsun's own childhood and adolescence were characterized by poverty, social and artistic ambitions, and a rich fantasy life.

As an adult, Hamsun was very enthusiastic about children and young people, and he used his Nobel Prize speech to celebrate youth. His daughter Victoria, whom he had with his first wife, was, however, treated somewhat like a stepmother. On the other hand, he was a kind and generous father to his own four children from his marriage to Marie, although they were sent away from home at an early age, strongly against Marie Hamsun's will.