In 1842, the first installment of Norske Folkeeventyr emerged, marking a shift in the study of comparative mythology and literature. This seminal collection of Norwegian folklore, produced in partnership with Jørgen Engebretsen Moe, established a foundation for national identity. The two collaborators developed a shared literary voice so consistent that their individual contributions became functionally indistinguishable.
Early Pursuits and Collaboration
Born in Christiania in 1812, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen began documenting fairy tales and legends in 1832. While studying at the University of Oslo starting in 1833, he maintained his commitment to gathering folk narratives. His lifelong partnership with Jørgen Moe began at Norderhov Rectory, where they met as students. Recognizing their common objective to preserve relics of folklore, the pair formalized their cooperation in 1834. They traveled extensively on foot across Norway to record oral histories, eventually publishing volumes of their findings in 1842, 1844, and 1871.
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Asbjørnsen balanced his literary career with a professional life in natural sciences. During the 1840s and 1850s, he conducted investigative voyages along the Norwegian coast, specifically within Hardangerfjord, collaborating with marine biologists Michael Sars and Georg Ossian Sars. His expertise led to the discovery of the sea star Brisinga endecacnemos at a depth of 380 metres in 1856, utilizing a custom-designed bottom scraper. Beyond marine biology, he transitioned into forestry, receiving training at the Royal Saxon Academy of Forestry. As forest-master, he influenced government policy regarding timber preservation and deforestation until his retirement in 1876.
Professional Recognition and Legacy
Throughout his life, Asbjørnsen held memberships in multiple international scientific organizations, including the Imperial Royal Zoological and Botanical Society in Vienna and the British Scandinavian Society. King Oscar I awarded him the Memoriæ Pignus medal in 1848. His intellectual output extended to popular science, where he addressed the theories of Carl Linnaeus and Charles Darwin. Following his death in 1885 in Christiania, where he was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund, his influence continued; his tales inspired the puppet films of Ivo Caprino and served as the visual subject for the Series VII 50 krone banknote.
Fast facts
- Born: 1812, Christiania
- Died: 1885, Christiania
- Primary Collaborator: Jørgen Engebretsen Moe
- Academic Institution: University of Oslo
- Noted Discovery: Brisinga endecacnemos (1856)
- Forestry Role: Forest-master
- Award: Memoriæ Pignus medal (1848)
- Burial Site: Vår Frelsers gravlund
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the Norske Folkeeventyr collection?
It was recognized throughout Europe as a major contribution to literature and the study of comparative mythology.
What were Asbjørnsen's scientific contributions beyond folklore?
He was a marine biologist who identified deep-sea organisms and served as a government-appointed forest-master focused on timber preservation.
