Tor Åge Bringsværd: Author – Norway

I write for children because I like an intelligent audience that doesn’t need to be spoon-fed, but that is playful and with the imagination to follow even if a table should lift and fly out of the window.

T. Å. Bringsværd

tor åge bringsværd, born in 1939, made his debut in 1967. Since then he has written more than 102 books for children, making him one of the most productive children’s writers in Norway and also one of the most versatile. His interests are wide ranging: from folklore, old religions, and myths to space travel and the future. But no matter what he writes about, the reader can be assured a kind and understanding eye on human nature and a love for the near and the small.

Early in his career, Bringsværd turned from the realistic style of writing which dominated in the seventies and instead started using fantastic themes and elements to make complex subjects more understandable for young readers. Bringsværd has, through his interest in folklore and science fiction, continued to write about current issues in a way that simplifies, but does not disrespect, the competence and intelligence of children. While writing about complex matters, Bringsværd never fails to showcase his optimistic view of human nature. Bringsværd is one of the first modern Norwegian children’s authors to incorporate traditional Norwegian folklore into a modern urban setting. His debut as children’s author was in 1969 with T-banetrollet Knerten Gundersen (The Subway-troll Knerten Gundersen), which combines the traditional Norwegian folk tale troll with the modern urban setting of subways and cities.

In 1985, Tor Åge Bringsværd started one of his biggest literary projects: adapting Norse myths into a series of illustrated books. This work has resulted in twelve successful books, each illustrated by different artists, giving the reader an opportunity to see how folklore and myths can be visualized in various ways. After the success of the series, Bringsværd has continued to write about myths from other religions. Throughout he has used the same format, with myths and legends being summed up in a way which makes the material exciting and creates an opportunity for young readers to learn about both their own heritage as well as that of others.