{{short description|Short story by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson}} {{For|the 1932 film|En glad gutt}} thumb | right | alt="A Happy Boy" by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson | "A Happy Boy" by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson '''''En glad Gut''''' (A Happy Boy) is a novel published in 1860 by the Norwegian writer Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sjåvik |first1=Jan |title=Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Literature and Theater |date=2006 |publisher=The Scarecrow Press |location=Lanham, MD |page=17}}</ref> It is one of his peasant novels.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Øyslebø |first1=Olaf |title=Bjørnsons "bondefortellinger": kulturhistorie eller allmennmenneskelig diktning? |date=1982 |publisher=Gyldendal |location=Oslo |page=34}}</ref>
==Plot== The main character, Øyvind Plassen, is a cotter's son that eventually wins a foothold in life, and thereby also his beloved Marit, a farm girl, through education at an agricultural school. Alongside the two and their parents, the story also develops the character of Øyvind's older friend and adviser Bård, the schoolmaster, in particular.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beyer |first1=Edvard |title=Fra Ibsen til Garborg |date=1975 |publisher=Cappelen |location=Oslo |page=114}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bojer |first1=Johan |title=Glimt og gleder: minner og meninger fra et langt liv |date=1960 |publisher=Gyldendal |location=Oslo |page=40}}</ref>
==Reception== Edvard Beyer wrote in ''Norges litteraturhistorie'' (Norway's Literary History) that "The story has a lyrical feel, especially the scenes from childhood. Bård the schoolmaster is one of Bjørnson's finest portrayals. However, his depiction of the protagonist is not as developed as in ''Arne'', and the last chapters are marked by haste. ... The critics had many words of praise, and with its cheerful tone and simple message—''Løft ditt hode, du raske gutt!'' 'Lift your head, you restless youth!' and ''Elsk din neste, du kristensjel'' 'Love your neighbor, you Christian soul'—''A Happy Boy'' is perhaps the most beloved of all of Bjørnson's stories."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beyer |first1=Edvard |title=Norges litteraturhistorie. Vol. 3: Fra Ibsen til Garborg |date=1975 |publisher=Cappelen |location=Oslo |page=115}}</ref>
==Film adaptation== ''En glad gutt'' was filmed in 1932 to mark the centenary of Bjørnson's birth.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beyer |first1=Edvard |title=Fra Ibsen til Garborg |date=1975 |publisher=Cappelen |location=Oslo |page=116}}</ref> Tore Foss played the lead role as Øyvind.<ref>{{cite news |title=Norwegian Picture at 5th Ave. Playhouse |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52565008/en-glad-gutt-1932/ |newspaper=Daily News |date=November 24, 1933 |page=621 |via = Newspapers.com |accessdate=June 1, 2020}} {{Open access}}</ref> This was one of the first sound films in Norway.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008071612001 1868 edition of ''En glad Gut''] at the National Library of Norway *[https://runeberg.org/bjorfort/0248.html 1907 edition of ''En glad Gut''] at Project Runeberg
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Category:19th-century Norwegian novels Category:1860 novels Category:Novels by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson