Agnar Mykle

Agnar Mykle (1915-1994) was a Norwegian author, whose novels are highlights in Norwegian literature.

As a child, he was often sick, forcing him to stay indoors for most of his childhood. Mykle went to high school at "Handelsgymnasiet in Trondheim" where he graduated in 1935. Soon after, he was offered a job as an assistant at his old school. After working diligently, he was offered a job as a principal at a similar school in Kirkenes.

In the 1940s Mykle was active as journalist and writer in the Norwegian Labour movement. He wrote scripts for their election films and plays for amateur theatre groups associated with the Labour movement. Debuted as an author in 1948 with "Taustigen", a collection of short stories. Other short story collections include: Jeg er likeglad, sa gutten (1952), Kors på halsen (1958) and Largo (1967). His novel was Tyven, tyven skal du hete (published in English as The Hotel Room) which was written in (1951). The two novels he wrote after that, Lasso rundt fru Luna (published in English as Lasso Around The Moon) (1954), and Sangen om den røde rubin (The Song of the Red Ruby) (1956), are regarded as cornerstones in Norwegian literature. His last published novel was Rubicon (1965).

The publication of The Song of the Red Ruby, ignited in 1957 what became one of the most famous court cases in Norwegian history. Mykle and his publisher Harald Grieg were accused of writing and publishing immoral and obscene material. They were both acqitted but the remaining copies of the book were ordered withdrawn from the market. The Norwegian Supreme Court overturned the ruling on the withdrawal in 1958. The court case and the pressure caused by the media attention changed Mykle for the rest of his life, and he became a regular reclusive. No photographs were published of the author after 1957 and he only associated with friends and family.

The translations of The Song of the Red Ruby got tremendous attention outside of Norway, especially in the USA. A huge sale followed, but Mykle had financial difficulties for the rest of his life. His letter exchanges with the Norwegian inland revenue were published in the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, as eloquently written as most of his literature. Three collections of his non-fiction writing were published post-humously in 1997 and 1998, Mannen fra Atlantis, En flodhest på parnasset and Alter of disk.

His passions included the puppet theatre, both as a director and puppeteer, and with his wife Jane he published a book about puppet theatre, Dukketeater, considered the most important book written about the subject in Norway.

Mykle also had an avid interest in music all his life. His father played in a marching band in Trondheim, and Mykle was particularly taken with marches and other band music. His favourite composer of marches was Kenneth Alford.

As an author, Mykle brought passion, love of beauty, and the longing for closeness to Norwegian literature. His books appealed to men and women alike, but men particularly found in his writing the verbalization of their own longings and urges. It is safe to say the Mykle's books influenced the change in sexual attitudes in Scandinavia throughout the 1950s and 1960s. He hated publishers, puritanism and pompousness.

References

• Eystein Eggen: Agnar Mykle – en dikterskjebne (1994)
• Anders Heger: Mykle, et diktet liv (1999)