Hans Børli


Hans Børli was a Norwegian poet and writer, who besides his writings worked as a lumberjack all his life.

Biography

Hans Georg Nilsen Børli was born at Eidskog in Hedmark, Norway. He was the fifth of seven children born to Nils Thorkildsen Børli and Marie Bolette Olsdatter Børli. Børli was raised on a small farm in a road-less area in the forests of Eidskog Kommune. The experience of poverty and hardship would leave a deep imprint on his later art. However, the positive effects of living close to nature, the wisdom of tradition and the solidarity between workers also had a significant bearing on his writings. A strict Christian pietism upbringing would leave Børli forever struggling with the counteractive forces of rebellion and a deeply embedded sense of religious longing.
Børli was considered a gifted boy and was admitted to Talhaug Mercantile School in Kongsvinger. He later was admitted to a military academy in Oslo, but his education was ended by the outbreak of the Second World War. Børli fought against the invading German Army, was involved in some intense battles in Vardal, and was captured in Verdal. After being released, he went back to Eidskog and worked as a teacher and forest worker for the remaining of the war. During the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, he was also involved in illegal activities including guiding refugees across the Swedish border.
His first collection of poetry, Tyrield was published in 1945. Until the mid-1950s, he published books almost annually, both poetry and prose. His writings were a characteristic blend of traditional and free form, romance and realism, perversion, seriousness, social awareness and religious quest. Ole Gundersen Børli, his mother's father was considered one of the last great oral narrator of legends and stories of the area. He was considered an important influence on the young writer-to-be. Hans Børli was by his own account also heavily influenced by the writings of poet Olav H. Hauge.
Hans Børli died in 1989 at 70 years of age and was buried at Eidskog Church.

Publications

Poetry

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