Vilde's Artist Management

Foto: Tarjei Ekenes Krogh

BOOK REVIEWS - EXCERPTS FROM THE PRESS

Stavanger Aftenblad, book review by Lillian Vatnoey, September 12, 2002

These are memories about being left alone, but also about being seen and
being loved. Some of it is almost private, but most of it gives us a look into
what being an artist is all about, narrated with compassion, loss and a
tremendous amount of admiration.

Dagsavisen, book review by Lillian Vatnoey, September 18, 2002

"You knew about a land" is a book of memories, not a biography. It is also a
subjective story, where Vilde talks about her father André, first and
foremost as a father, but also as a poet, a man of arts and science, an
alcoholic, a husband and a friend. Vilde Bjerkeâs compassion for her father
shines through the written word, and is both the strength and the weakness
of the book. A strength because her involvement and love is true and
considerate, a weakness because, as a daughter with a close relationship to
her father, she tends to portray André Bjerke with a lack of will to see that
he was also absent: "He had a vocation."

Valdres, book review by Terje Eklund, November 1, 2002

Vilde Bjerke’s book of memories about her father, the poet and advocate of
standard Norwegian (Riksmaal), has become a warm and intimate portrait.
This book is written with love and sincerity, but still not excluding the less
gratifying sides of her father, such as the alcohol problems or his absence
when he was in the middle of a creative process. We get a close up of André
Bjerke in this book, and Vilde Bjerke describes the father-daughter
relationship in an intelligent and sophisticated way. Many situations describe
the close relationship between the two. One recognizes how inspiring and
stimulating it must have been, but also frustrating, to grow up with a famous
poet father and an actress mother (Henny Moan). Vilde Bjerke’s style is
straightforward and alive, and the book is also very much the story about
her own thoughts, feelings and experiences. She also gives us an interesting
look into André Bjerke's family background, his childhood and growing up. It
is moving to read about the poet's illness after he suffered a stroke, about
his faith in Christianity and spiritual yearning. The book is illustrated with
many interesting photos and citations signed André Bjerke and Vilde herself.

Adresseavisen, "Captivating about father and daughter", book review by Rolf
Rolfsen, September 7, 2002

This book of memories, "You knew about a land", proves that the versatile
artist also was a beloved father. In a casual style, confirming that the apple
doesn't fall far from the tree, Vilde Bjerke reproduces pictures from her
childhood and youth, often spiced up with funny stories. She describes
openheartedly, but without being private, the close relationship between
father and daughter. From the day she opened her eyes, her father found
inspiration in her, and the name Vilde appears in many of his poems. But
Vilde also gives examples of how difficult it was at times, to grow up in a
family of artists. When her mother, Henny Moan, was at the theatre, her
father was supposed to look after her, but was often so absent-minded that
he forgot about her for hours. The fact that he was an alcoholic and drank
heavily at times, didn't make things easier for the little girl. But the problems
didn't have any impact on her compassion for her father. Vilde describes
tenderly how father and daughter were always close, even after her parents
divorced. One highlight is when Bjerke, after having suffered a stroke, talks
with Vilde about Christ. The poet's interest in metaphysics grew stronger
over the years, and he shared his thoughts with his daughter. Although Vilde
first and foremost talks about her parents and the closest family, she also
draws the lines of a versatile writer's growth, with roots in a not so distant,
Norwegian cultural history filled with celebrities. Most of it seems to be
accurately reproduced, whether she writes about authors, people from the
theatre or chess players. (...) Otherwise I can only confirm that Vilde does
homage to her father with a captivating book, which will probably not be her
last.

Trønderavisa, "Captivating on growing up with André", book review by Kari
Oliv Vedvik, November 11, 2002

Vilde Bjerke has written a book about her growing up with André Bjerke. A
daring project with many pitfalls. In her personal style and language, Vide
Bjerke succeeds in drawing a vivid portrait of André Bjerke. Her book has a
strong narrative voice and is interspersed with known and unknown poems
from her father's rich literary production. She also describes her father' s
alcoholism in an honest way. In spite of the fact that she was often left alone
as a child, because her father would be out drinking and her mother would
be out on tour, self pity is a never a theme. She pays homage to her father
for the man he was, and has apparently accepted his faults and mistakes,
remembering his qualities with great joy. She shows us how to marriages,
with women he loved and was loved by, were torn a part due to his alcohol
abuse. But joyful events are in majority. The games of chess, the trip to the
Mediterranean which lasted for half a year, the poems he dedicated to her,
regular meetings in coffee bars, etc. He was playful, interested and involved
in his child.

Gudbrandsdalen Dagningen, book review by Oddvar Rakeng, November 11,
2002

Vilde Bjerke's biography about her father André Bjerke, opens a few doors
upon a nervous and seeking, but also quite egocentric artist's mind. Vilde is
straightforward and writes that it was hell to live with her father's alcoholism.
In her biography, she has chosen to be open about this. Some readers will
undeniably consider it as a private matter with no interest to the public eye,
but it is also relevant to consider these chapters as refreshingly honest, and
good for the book. A long row of famous artists were on the permanent
guest list of the house. Writers such as Jens Bjørneboe, Odd Eidem, Carl
Keilhau, painter Odd Nerdrum (then unknown), publisher Øystein Parmann,
cabaret star Carsten Byhring, actress Liv Ullmann, Toralv Maurstad and Rut
Tellefsen, painter Jens Johannesen and TV Theatre director Arild
Brinchmann, to mention a few. Painter Jacob Weidemann would sit by Vilde's
bed an make her drawings. Through this inspirational gallery of celebrities,
the poet's daughter brings us many good descriptions with both humour and
affection.

An important trip to Greece, is a among the book's most enjoyable chapters.
But there are also very subtle descriptions of her father's young years and
his involvement in politics. Essential to the book, is the chapter on André's
parents, Eilert and Karin Bjerke, two highly cultivated personalities, who
gave their son an invaluable foundation. Vilde was born in 1960. She was
her father's sunshine. Vilde Bjerke has given us a beautiful and bright
biography, illustrated with several photos from the family album.

Verdens Gang, book review by Yngvar Ustvedt, September 10, 2002

The result is really neat, full of odd and funny recollections from a childhood.
But there are also sad memories. Difficult things. But the focus is on Bjerke's
qualities in his daughter's book. His culture, his broad horizon and
unstoppable appetite for more knowledge. And his great working capacity,
his excellent memory and great talent. His close relationship to his cousin
Jens Bjørneboe and the circle around them, is one of the book's highlights.
So is the chapter on Bjerke's unlucky father, who died with 17 unpublished
works in his drawer. Here, the young Bjerke writes entrancingly. A part of
the book revolves around Vilde herself and her own personal development
as an artist. But first and foremost, this book is about her father. New
substance is brought into light, like Bjerke's growing up in the eastern part
of Oslo. And his life in Jar, when he was married to Henny Moan. We haven't
seen that many publications about André Bjerke. Jan E. Hansen wrote a
good book, but that is about it. Vilde Bjerke's book is therefore an important
contribution, and reading it, we can feel the presence of the poet. There
could have been more anecdotes. And Bjerke's great sense of humour could
have been better exemplified. But all in all, this nice, little book, gives us
André Bjerke in full figure