Gordon Hølmebakk (26 February 1928 – 10 January 2018) was a Norwegian publishing editor, essayist and novelist. [1]

Gordon Hølmebakk
Born(1928-02-26)26 February 1928
Feda, Norway
Died10 January 2018(2018-01-10) (aged 89)
Oslo, Norway
NationalityNorwegian
Alma materUniversity of Oslo
Occupation(s)Publishing editor, essayist and novelist
RelativesSigbjørn Hølmebakk (brother)

Biography edit

He was born in Feda, (now Kvinesdal) in Vest-Agder, Norway. He was the son of Søren Adolf Svindland (1881–1966) and Inger Marie Abrahamsen Møgedal (1888–1949). His brother was the noted author Sigbjørn Hølmebakk (1922–1981).[2]

He entered the University of Oslo in 1950, where he came into contact with Harald Grieg, the director of the publishing firm Gyldendal Norsk Forlag. Hølmebakk worked for Gyldendal from 1958. Hølmebakk soon came to assume responsibility of the large number of translations from contemporary world literature in Den gule serie, which Sigurd Hoel (1890–1960) had previously edited since 1929. Hølmebakk edited a new series in which many important avant-garde foreign authors were introduced in Norway. Hølmebakk headed the section of translated fiction from 1960 to 1996 during which time Gyldendal published more translated books than did any other Norwegian publishing house. Hølmebakk also edited several book series and anthologies. [3] [4] [5]

In 1955, he married Inger Sophie Blix Manthey. After his retirement, he wrote novels under the pseudonym Gabriel Homme. In 1996, he wrote his autobiography, Den gode strid. In 1997 he was jointly awarded the Anders Jahre's Cultural Prize (Anders Jahres Kulturpris) with the composer Arne Nordheim (1931–2010). He died in 2018 in Oslo, Norway. [3] [6]

References edit

  1. ^ Godal, Anne Marit (ed.). "Gordon Hølmebakk". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  2. ^ Tom Lotherington. "Sigbjørn Hølmebakk". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b Lotherington, Tom. "Gordon Hølmebakk". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  4. ^ Anders Neraal. "Den gule serie". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  5. ^ Erik Bjerck Hagen. "Sigurd Hoel". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  6. ^ "1997 - Gordon Hølmebakk, skjønnlitterær kulturformidler og Arne Nordheim, komponist". anders jahres kulturpris. Retrieved 1 May 2018.