Carl Fredrik Engelstad

Carl Johan Fredrik Engelstad (11 November 1915 – 1 October 1996) was a Norwegian writer, playwright, journalist, translator and theatre director.

Personal life

Engelstad was born in Hadsel as the son of jurist Sigurd Engelstad (1878–1916) and younger brother of archivist Sigurd Engelstad.

He married Vibeke Engelstad, a physician. Their son Fredrik became a professor of sociology, and married professor Irene Johnson.

Career

Carl Fredrik Engelstad was hired as a theatre critic in Morgenbladet in 1945. He stayed here until 1960, the last two years as cultural editor. He was theatre director for Nationaltheatret from 1960 to 1961, and from 1965 he worked in Aftenposten. He was known for writing from a Christian viewpoint.

From 1946 to 1949 he also edited the periodical Spektrum. He debuted as a writer in 1949, with two plays. His novels included Gjester i mørket (1958), Størst blant dem (1977) and De levendes land (1986). For the two latter novels, Engelstad was awarded the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature. He also wrote books about Francis of Assisi, Ronald Fangen, Ludvig Holberg and Johan Herman Wessel, among others.

Awards

• Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature 1977, 1986
• Riksmål Society Literature Prize 1986

References

Cultural offices
Preceded by Knut Hergel	Director of the National Theatre 1960–1961	Succeeded by Erik Kristen-Johanssen
Awards
Preceded by Kjell Risvik	Recipient of the Bastian Prize 1976	Succeeded by Erik Gunnes