Aimée Sommerfelt (née Dedichen; 8 April 1892 – 7 August 1975)[2][3] was a Norwegian writer of numerous children's books and young adult novels.

Aimée Sommerfelt
BornNicoline Aimée Dedichen
2 April 1892
Oslo, Norway
Died7 August 1975
Oslo, Norway[1]
NationalityNorwegian
Genrechildren's books, young adult fiction
Notable worksThe Road to Agra
Notable awardsJane Addams Children's Book Award, Josette Frank Award
SpouseAlf Sommerfelt
RelativesHenrik Arnold Thaulow Dedichen (father)
Antoinette Pauline Marie Nyblin (mother)

Biography edit

She was born as Nicoline Aimée Dedichen, the daughter of a psychiatrist, Henrik Arnold Thaulow Dedichen (not to be confused with the writer Henrik Arnold Thaulow Wergeland, his maternal grandfather's first cousin) and Antoinette Pauline Marie "Toinon" Nyblin (1861–1941) .[3] [4]

She was most famous for her 1959 work The Road to Agra. In 1961, it became her first book to be published in the United States, being translated into English by Evelyn Ramsden. Her books usually highlighted issues of social justice. They placed child protagonists in extremely difficult circumstances, such as poverty and wartime.

She married linguist Alf Sommerfelt.

She became blind late in her life.[3]

Awards and honours edit

For The Road to Agra, Sommerfelt won the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Josette Frank Award.

Bibliography edit

  • Miriam (1950)
  • The Road to Agra (1959) (translated into English by Evelyn Ramsden in 1961)
  • The White Bungalow (1962), sequel to The Road to Agra
  • My Name Is Pablo (1964)
  • No Easy Way (1967)

References edit

  1. ^ Norsk biografisk leksikon: "Aimée Sommerfelt"
  2. ^ "The Road to Agra: About the Author". Encarta. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  3. ^ a b c "Road to Agra: About the Author". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  4. ^ "Nicoline Aimée Dedichen b. 2 Apr 1892 Kristiania d. 7 Aug 1975 Oslo: Erik Berntsens slektssider". vestraat.net. Retrieved 2020-05-23.