Øverland, Arnulf (1889–1968)

Norwegian lyric poet. His profound love of truth and justice is expressed in masterly poetic form. Using his poetry as a weapon, he struck out against social injustice in such poems as Brød og vin/Bread and Wine 1919. In Ord i alvor til det norske folk/Words in Earnest to the Norwegian People 1940 he made a creed of socialism, scorning Christianity, and in Den røde front/The Red Front 1937 he challenged Nazism. When the Germans invaded 1940, Øverland gave voice to the Norwegian Resistance with his powerful poems, later collected under the title Vi overlever alt/We Will Survive 1945. He was sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, but was liberated 1945. Tilbake til livet/Back to Life appeared 1946.