Lie, Jonas (1833–1908)

Norwegian novelist. His first novel, Den fremsynte/The Visionary 1870, is a melancholy romance full of ‘Nordland mystery’. In the 1880s he was influenced by the new realistic school of writing, and produced minutely observed accounts of domestic life in Norway, criticizing the narrow ‘village morality’ and social oppression of women in such works as Gaa paa!/Go Ahead! 1882, Familjen paa Gilje/The Family at Gilje 1883, and Kommandørens Døtre/The Commodore's Daughters 1886. His later works are dominated by his conviction of the power of demonic impulses over the minds of humans (Trold/Trolls 1891–92 and Dyre Rein 1896).

Lie was born in Eiker, near Drammen. At first a lawyer, he devoted himself to literature after bankruptcy. Following the publication of Den Fremsynte he spent much of his life abroad.