Gerda bengtsson biography samples
The Bengtssons of Knäred compiled by
The Author
This book was compiled by John D. Bengtson of Savage, Minnesota -that's me. It was first conceived in 1969 when I was in Sweden. I hand copied some original church records from national archives. I then typed the content by hand in the 1970s from research gleaned painstakingly over time. In 2023, I sought to create something that could be shared with relatives easily such that the history of this family could be told and retold across generations. I took the original 29 printed pages and had them digitally reproduced and then updated the images and added photos to generate this finished product. D. John Bengtson was born on the 13th of December, 1836 at Knäred, Halland, Sweden. Of his childhood the writer knows very little, as he never could be induced to talk about himself. But this much is certain, that he had the same hardships to contend with that other children of his station in life had. His mother and father lived in a croft, called Orodehultet. This was in the Veinge forest region where the land was very hilly. A little creek passed through the property and here the children amused themselves setting out crude water wheels, and observing small fish as they played in the pools. The croft was too small to support all the children, so John at an early age was set to herding sheep for the villagers. The sheep were taken out to the woods where a careful watch had to be kept over them lest the fox should sneak up and carry away a lamb or kill a larger sheep. The foxes of Sweden were big and strong, and full-grown geese, pigs, chickens and lambs were their most relished food. Boys as well as girls herded sheep and it was no uncommon sight to see a girl sitting on a stump knitting in order to pass the time away while the sheep browsed. The boys also would sometimes knit although this did not appeal to their fancy. What did appeal to them, however, was to be furnished with a pistol and powder and to be told to Johannes Meyer Andersen (1918-?) Well-Listed Danish artist. About the artist: Travels: Exhibitions: Listed works: .Röde Orm
⊕ First, to the author: I know that you’re dead, but believe you must be sitting at the right hand of Odin, smiling that another reader has recognized your magnificent talent for stories, your impressive capacity for research and your sure way with words. Plaudits to your translator, too. It couldn’t have been easy to get the spare, vaguely archaic tone of this right.
⊕ To NYRB Classics: Had I known that your choices for reissue were this good, I’d have sampled your collection much sooner.
⊕ To my lovely, level-headed wife who may be a bit prejudiced against Norsemen (and, for that matter, frat boys): Your initial reluctance to believe that a story about Vikings in the late 10th century could be good made me realize that I’d have to work hard to make my case. And yes, Susan, women were featured, though the chivalry they were shown was not what you might call refined.
⊕ And finally, to Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, my favorite purveyors of fine reading here in Chicago: From the bottom of my ale-cup to the tip of my Andalusian steel, I say thank you for placing this book in my hands. Ellen and Ulrich, you and your well-read customer who named this the best story ever were absolutely right – I now have a new standard for rollicking good fun and ripping good yarn.
Plot and History
To me, the best historical fiction integrates real events into the narrative in such an entertaining way that you hardly notice the education. This is exactly that kind of book. I now know lots about the Viking Age, Al-Mansur in Andalusia, Brian Boru in Ireland, Ethelred the Unready, the Battle of Maldon and many of the Norse Kings and chieftains. This comes as part of the package featuring the adventures of one Red Orm (red being th
Johannes Meyer came from a middle-class Danish family, who worked in the fish industry. Mayer’s father was a close friend and soldier buddy of Jean Gauguin, who came and lived with the Mayer family during the summers. Jean Gauguin was a great influence for Johannes Meyer and he began painting already as a young child. Meyer was only 18 when he debuted at “KE” The artists fall exhibition in 1936, and there he got a great deal of attention. Wilhelm Lundstrom who was functioning as a censor at the exhibition, personally encouraged Meyer to continue painting. Meyer continued working on his amazing painting skills and attended the technical painting school where he was taught by Martin S. Rasmussen. Meyer became very popular during his lifetime, and could afford working as a full time artist for the rest of his life. Meyer have been exhibited in Denmark, Brussels, New York and Miami.
Paris: 1938, 1948, 1958-62.
Italy:(every summer) 1950-56.
England: 1970.
Sweden and Norway: 1965-70, 1971-75.
Denmark:
KE: 1936
Den frie Udstillings bygning: 1939.
Nordisk Malerkunst: 1945
Tage Frandsen Kunstsalen: 1953-54.
Skovgaard museum: 1967.
Det gamle havehus: 1978
Skagens city hall: 1985-1993
Modern art, Skagen museum: 1980
Grenen Kunstmuseum: 1987
United States:
New York, Miami:
The Danish painter’s exhibition: 1956.
Solvang, California: 1958.
Brussels:
Danish Design Exhibition: 1986.
Fodselsdag på kvisten (1936); Lyng og hav (1979, Grenen Kunstmus.); Udsigt over tage, Gl. Skagen (1984, forlag for Skagen Turistforen. Kunstplakat 1984, med tekst af Sten Kaaloe); Strandrosen. Decorations: Krydstogtskibet Royal Carribbean, Cruise Line (indr. af Mogens Hammer). Andet: Skagensmaerket 1987; Toppen af Danm. (Serigraph, 1989).
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