LARS OFTEDAL

"Mr. Oftedal holds a position that many a minister could envy. In ten years he has driven it to become one of Norway's notables, - and that in ten eventful years, in which greater figures than his have fallen without being remembered any more, and greater abilities and powers than his have fought without winning."

1889

Lars Oftedal (1889) consists of twelve articles that Hamsun published in Dagbladet during the autumn of 1889.

Lars Oftedal (1838–1900) was a theologian by training, but also worked as a pressman and politician. Oftedal belonged to the moderate wing of the Liberal Party in Norwegian politics, and among other things opposed the radical Alexander Kielland being granted poet's status.

Hamsun disliked Oftedal both politically and personally, and in his articles he strongly attacked the charismatic Stavanger preacher's faith, politics and writing. Hamsun shared his aversion to Oftedal with Kielland, who in Sankt Hans fest (1887) gave a vicious portrait of Oftedal in the character Morten Kruse.