Paul Botten-Hansen

Who was Paul Botten-Hansen?

Paul Botten-Hansen was a Norwegian librarian, book collector, magazine editor and literary critic, born in Sel in Gudbrandsdalen. He was co-editor of the magazine Andhrimner together with Henrik Ibsen and Aasmund Olavson Vinje in 1851. He edited the magazine Illustreret Nyhedsblad from 1851 to 1866. He was head of the University Library in Christiania from 1864.

His fairytale drama Huldrebryllupet first appeared in Andhrimner in 1851, and elements from this play are later treated by Henrik Ibsen in the 1867 play Peer Gynt.

Botten-Hansen's book collection of 14,000 volumes was the basis for the establishment of the Bergen Public Library in 1874.