Magnhild Haalke

Who was Magnhild Haalke?

Magnhild Haalke was a Norwegian novelist.

Magnhild Haalke was born in Vikna, an island off the Namdalen coast in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. Before she took up writing she worked as a teacher for 30 years in Sør-Odal. In 1922, she married her second cousin, Hjalmar Kristian Haalke who was an artist.

She made her literary debut in 1935 with the novel Allis sønn. Her deep psychological insight and great environmental descriptions ensured her a lasting place in Norwegian literature. Eventually she wrote nearly 30 books. Haalke made use of strong, colorful language and lush figures of speech. Her novels often focused on adult insensitive treatment of defenseless youth. The role of the mother in childhood development was a frequent subject. In several books she wrote of values relating to childhood environment and family traditions.

Her trilogy Åkfestet, Dagblinket and Rød haust? describes the fate of a woman growing up on a small farm. The trilogy was later reworked into Grys saga.

The trilogy Karenanna Velde, Kaja Augusta and Kvinneverden is from a rural district on the coast of Trøndelag.