Leif Torvald Halse (7 July 1896 – 8 February 1984) was a Norwegian teacher, novelist, short story writer, children's writer, comics writer and local historian, particularly known for the comics series '' Vangsgutane''.

Biography

He was born in

Halsa Halsa is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until 2020 when it became part of Heim Municipality in Trondelag county. It was part of the Nordmøre region. The administrative centre ...

and grew up in Todal,

Surnadal Surnadal () is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Nordmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Skei. Other villages in Surnadal include Glærem, Mo, Stangvik, Surnadalsøra, Sylte, Todalsø ...

. He was employed at Levanger Teacher School ('' Levanger lærerhøgskole'') from 1914-17, later working at

Hommelvik Hommelvik is the administrative centre of the municipality of Malvik in Trøndelag county, Norway. The village is located at the end of the ''Hommelvika'', a bay off of the Trondheimsfjord. Hommelvik is about southwest of the village of Muruvi ...

, where he was a teacher and local historian. Halse made his literary debut in 1920 with the story collection ''UIv''. He later wrote novels, children's books and local history books. He edited the anthologies ''Trønderkveld'' (1943) and ''I trønder-lag'' (1944). The comics series '' Vangsgutane'' was started in 1940, initiated by the editor of the weekly magazine ''

Nynorsk Vekeblad Hans Aarnes (6 May 1886 – 25 October 1960) was a Norwegian entrepreneur, journalist, newspaper editor, magazine editor, publisher and proponent for the Nynorsk language. Early and personal life Aarnes was born in Vatne, Møre og Romsdal as t ...

'',

Hans Aarnes Hans Aarnes (6 May 1886 – 25 October 1960) was a Norwegian entrepreneur, journalist, newspaper editor, magazine editor, publisher and proponent for the Nynorsk language. Early and personal life Aarnes was born in Vatne, Møre og Romsdal as ...

. Halse wrote the text for the series, which was illustrated by Jens R. Nilssen from 1941 to 1957, and eventually by other illustrators. Halse issued a collection of ''Vangsgutane'' almost every year from 1941 to 1982 (except in 1944, 1946 and 1963). Halse was awarded the King's Medal of Merit in gold (''Kongens fortjenstmedalje''). A statue of "Vangsgutane", sculptured by Annasif Døhlen and with a relief of Halse, was unveiled in Todal in 1997.

References

1896 births 1984 deaths People from Møre og Romsdal Norwegian comics writers Nynorsk-language writers Norwegian male novelists Norwegian children's writers Norwegian male short story writers 20th-century Norwegian novelists 20th-century Norwegian male writers Recipients of the King's Medal of Merit in gold {{norway-writer-stub