The Norwegian biography of Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Abstract

This article draws on and develops the already existing research on the reception of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous novel in Norway (published in 1852), which has largely been focused on translations published in the 1850s and 1950s. By analyzing and comparing hitherto underexplored parts of the Norwegian reception, with a special emphasis on three translations published in 1891, 1958 and 1991, the article provides new knowledge on the Norwegian biography of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It sheds light on coincident tendencies in the Norwegian adaptations of Stowe’s novel and examines to what extent the tendencies identified by previous researchers are representative also for a larger selection of translations. In conclusion, the article takes a closer look at how constantly new editions and publishing contexts have contributed to Uncle Tom’s Cabin’s circulation in and impact on the Norwegian literary market for 170 years.