Francis Bull
Encyclopedia
Francis Bull was a Norwegian literary historian, professor at the University of Oslo
for more than thirty years, essayist and speaker, and magazine editor.
, as a son of medical doctor Edvard Isak Hambro Bull (1845–1925) and Ida Marie Sofie Paludan (1861–1957). He was a brother of theatre director Johan Peter Bull
, historian and politician Edvard Bull
and genealogist Theodor Bull
. Through Edvard Bull he was the uncle of historian Edvard Bull
. He was also a nephew of military officer Karl Sigwald Johannes Bull, grandnephew of Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull, great-grandson of Georg Jacob Bull
and great-great-grandson of Chief Justice Johan Randulf Bull
.
In June 1924 he married Ingrid Berntsen (1896–1976).
his secondary education, and enrolled at the University of Oslo
, mainly being tutored by Gerhard Gran
. As a student Bull wrote the monographies Conrad Nicolai Schwach (1908) and Bjørnson og Sverige (issued 1911). The last work earned him the cand.philol. degree. His doctoral dissertation of 1916 was titled Fra Holberg til Nordahl Brun.
Bull was appointed professor in Nordic literature at the University of Oslo
in 1920, succeeding the aging Gerhard Gran. In addition to lecturing he co-edited the literary history Norsk litteraturhistorie (four volumes, 1924–1937). He worked on Norsk litteraturhistorie for many years, and as a byproduct of this endeavor he wrote hundreds of entries in the biographical dictionary
Norsk biografisk leksikon
, of which Gerhard Gran and Edvard Bull were two of the editors-in-chief.
Bull was editor-in-chief of the journal Edda
from 1925 to 1960. He was chairman of the board of Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
from 1925 to 1968, and a board member of the National Theatre
from 1922 to 1956, with the exception of the years 1941 to 1945. Norway was invaded
and occupied by Nazi Germany
in 1940, and because the National Theatre board did not abide by the directions from the Nazi government, Bull, along with board members publisher Harald Grieg
and banker Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
, was arrested in 1941. Bull spent three years in a concentration camp, Grini. As he had an excellent memory, he was able to continue his lecturing in prison, by holding secret lectures for co-prisoners. Due to this, Grini was nicknamed "the People's University" by some. A collection of these lectures were published as Tretten taler på Grini in 1945. Bull won recognition for this, and was a popular public speaker and lecturer after the war.
Bull was a praeces in the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
several times between 1941 and 1957, again except for 1941–1945. He held an honorary degree
at Aarhus University from 1946, and was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1957. He retired as a professor in 1957, and died in July 1974 in Hørsholm
, Denmark.
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
for more than thirty years, essayist and speaker, and magazine editor.
Early and personal life
Bull was born in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, as a son of medical doctor Edvard Isak Hambro Bull (1845–1925) and Ida Marie Sofie Paludan (1861–1957). He was a brother of theatre director Johan Peter Bull
Johan Peter Bull
Johan Peter Bull was a Norwegian theatre worker. He was appointed at the National Theatre of Norway from 1909 to 1950 in various administrative positions, including secretary and stage director. He was the brother of literary historian Francis Bull, and politician Edvard Bull...
, historian and politician Edvard Bull
Edvard Bull, Sr.
Edvard Bull was a Norwegian historian and politician for the Labour Party. He took the doctorate in 1912 and became a professor at the University of Kristiania in 1917, and is known for writings on a broad range of subjects. In addition to his academic work, he is known for his work on Norsk...
and genealogist Theodor Bull
Theodor Bull
Theodor Bull was a Norwegian businessperson and genealogist.He was born in Kristiania as a son of medical doctor Edvard Isak Hambro Bull . He was a brother of theatre director Johan Peter Bull, historian and politician Edvard Bull and literary professor Francis Bull. Through Edvard Bull he was the...
. Through Edvard Bull he was the uncle of historian Edvard Bull
Edvard Bull, Jr.
Edvard Bull , Edvard Bull d.y. or Edvard Bull, Jr., was a Norwegian historian.He was born in Kristiania as the son of professor and politician Edvard Bull, Sr.. He was active member of the Workers' Youth League...
. He was also a nephew of military officer Karl Sigwald Johannes Bull, grandnephew of Anders Sandøe Ørsted Bull, great-grandson of Georg Jacob Bull
Georg Jacob Bull
Georg Jacob Bull was a Norwegian jurist and politician.He was a stipendiary magistrate of Bergen from 1810 to 1821. While stationed here, he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament for the year 1821...
and great-great-grandson of Chief Justice Johan Randulf Bull
Johan Randulf Bull
Johan Randulf Bull was a Norwegian judge.He was born in Stod, as the brother of Johan Lausen Bull. He took the jurist examination in Copenhagen in 1778, and was a member of Det Norske Selskab there...
.
In June 1924 he married Ingrid Berntsen (1896–1976).
Career
Bull finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education, and enrolled at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, mainly being tutored by Gerhard Gran
Gerhard Gran
Gerhard von der Lippe Gran was a Norwegian literary historian, professor, magazine editor, essayist and biographer.-Personal life:...
. As a student Bull wrote the monographies Conrad Nicolai Schwach (1908) and Bjørnson og Sverige (issued 1911). The last work earned him the cand.philol. degree. His doctoral dissertation of 1916 was titled Fra Holberg til Nordahl Brun.
Bull was appointed professor in Nordic literature at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1920, succeeding the aging Gerhard Gran. In addition to lecturing he co-edited the literary history Norsk litteraturhistorie (four volumes, 1924–1937). He worked on Norsk litteraturhistorie for many years, and as a byproduct of this endeavor he wrote hundreds of entries in the biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionaries – a type of encyclopedic dictionary limited to biographical information – have been written in many languages. Many attempt to cover the major personalities of a country...
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
, of which Gerhard Gran and Edvard Bull were two of the editors-in-chief.
Bull was editor-in-chief of the journal Edda
Edda. Scandinavian Journal of Literary Research
Edda. Scandinavian Journal of Literary Research is a magazine for research on Scandinavian literature, and for literary researchers in the Scandinavian countries. It was founded by Gerhard Gran in 1914. The magazine's first publishing house was Aschehoug. Gran edited the magazine until his death...
from 1925 to 1960. He was chairman of the board of Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, commonly referred to as Gyldendal, is one of the largest Norwegian publishing houses .-Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS:Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS was founded in 1925...
from 1925 to 1968, and a board member of the National Theatre
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
from 1922 to 1956, with the exception of the years 1941 to 1945. Norway was invaded
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
and occupied by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
in 1940, and because the National Theatre board did not abide by the directions from the Nazi government, Bull, along with board members publisher Harald Grieg
Harald Grieg
Harald Grieg was a Norwegian publisher.He was a relative of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Harald's brother Nordahl Grieg was a writer and an active member of the Free Norwegian Forces during the German occupation of Norway...
and banker Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Mathias Sejersted Bødtker CBE was a Norwegian banker, art collector and patron of the arts.-Early and personal life:...
, was arrested in 1941. Bull spent three years in a concentration camp, Grini. As he had an excellent memory, he was able to continue his lecturing in prison, by holding secret lectures for co-prisoners. Due to this, Grini was nicknamed "the People's University" by some. A collection of these lectures were published as Tretten taler på Grini in 1945. Bull won recognition for this, and was a popular public speaker and lecturer after the war.
Bull was a praeces in the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
several times between 1941 and 1957, again except for 1941–1945. He held an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
at Aarhus University from 1946, and was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1957. He retired as a professor in 1957, and died in July 1974 in Hørsholm
Hørsholm
Hørsholm Kommune is a municipality in the Copenhagen Capital Region in the northern part of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 31 km², and has a total population of 24,197...
, Denmark.