Geir Kjetsaa (2 June 1937 in Oslo – 2 June 2008) was a Norwegian professor in Russian literary history at the University of Oslo, translator of Russian literature, and author of several biographies of classical Russian writers.[1]

Geir Kjetsaa
Professor Geir Kjetsaa
photograph by Leif Ørnelund 04.08.1977
Born(1937-06-02)2 June 1937
Oslo, Norway
Died2 June 2008(2008-06-02) (aged 71)
NationalityNorwegian
Occupation(s)Professor in Russian literary history, and translator of Russian literature
EmployerUniversity of Oslo
Notable workBiographies of classical Russian writers (Baratynsky, Dostoevsky, Gogol, Gorky, Tolstoy, Chekhov)

Biography edit

He was born in Oslo, Norway. He was the son of Thorleif Kjetsaa (1907–69) and Marit Elen Hansen (1912–82). He grew up and died in Hornnes. He graduated as cand.philol. in 1963, took the dr.philos. degree in 1969, and was appointed professor in 1971. Kjetsaa was member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and of the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature.[2]

A 1984 monograph by Kjetsaa and others used statistical analyses which support the view that Mikhail Sholokhov was likely the true author of And Quiet Flows the Don - defending the Soviet writer against persistent allegations of plagiarizing. Among his other biographies were works on Yevgeny Baratynsky, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Nikolai Gogol, Maxim Gorky, Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov.

Selected writings edit

  • Jevgenij Baratynskij: Liv og diktning (thesis, 1969)
  • A norm for the use of poetical language in the age of Puskin: A comparative analysis (1983)
  • The Authorship of The Quiet Don (1984)
  • Fjodor Dostojevskij, et dikterliv (biography, 1985) (Fyodor Dostoyevsky: A Writer's Life)
  • Nikolaj Gogol: Den gåtefulle dikteren (biography, 1990)
  • Maksim Gorkij: En dikterskjebne (biography, 1994)
  • Lev Tolstoj: Den russiske jords store dikter (biography, 1999)
  • Tsjekhov (biography, 2004)

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Professoren, livet og dikterne" Archived 2008-05-28 at the Wayback MachineApollon (05.01.2005) (Retrieved on June 5, 2008)
  2. ^ Erik Egeberg (15 January 2009). "Minnetale over professor dr.philos. Geir Kjetsaa". Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Priser – Fritt Ords Honnør" (in Norwegian). Fritt Ord. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Jahre-pris til Kjetsaa og Ambjørnsen" Archived 2007-08-08 at the Wayback MachineNRK Kultur (30.06.2004) (Retrieved on June 5, 2008)
  5. ^ "Ingvar Ambjørnsen, forfatter og Geir Kjetsaa, formidler av russisk litteratur". Anders Jahres kulturpris. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Dekorert som Kommandør av Den Kgl. St. Olavs Orden"Fylkesmannen i Vest-Agder (21. november 2007 ) (Retrieved on June 5, 2008)
Awards
Preceded by Recipient of the Bastian Prize
1978
Succeeded by