Knut Hamsun Remembers America

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When Americans think of Knut Hamsun (1859–1952), they often recall him as the author of Hunger or as a figure who betrayed Norway by supporting the Nazis during World War II. However, Hamsun, a Nobel Prize winner in 1920 for The Growth of the Soil, remains a significant and influential novelist. This collection features thirteen essays and stories based on Hamsun’s experiences during his four years in the United States as a young man, most of which have not been published in English before. Hamsun's views on America were complex, often more negative than positive, expressed in both his reminiscences and fiction. In his first major book, he depicted the U.S. as a land of materialism, inhabited by illiterates lacking artistic originality. While not all pieces are anti-American, many highlight the strangeness of life in what he termed Yankeeland. Arranged chronologically, the collection is divided into three categories: Critical Reporting, Memory and Fantasy, and Mellow Reminiscence. The Critical Reporting section includes articles from Norwegian or Danish newspapers reflecting his views on various American topics, including an essay on Mark Twain. Memory and Fantasy blends fact and fiction in narratives about life in America, while Mellow Reminiscence offers later, more affectionate reflections. Overall, these pieces provide insights into European criticism of American ways and illuminate Hamsun's evolving worldview, appealing t