Mikkjel Fønhus

Mikkjel Fønhus (14 March 1894 – 28 October 1973) was a Norwegian journalist, novelist and short story writer. Fønhus' stories are often set in the wilderness, featuring animals and animal behaviour. His next books were Det skriker fra Kverrvilljuvet and Troll-Elgen (1921). These three books were all set in the wilderness, featuring animals and animal behavior. In 1922 he published a novel from Spitsbergen, Under polarlyset.

The stories of Fønhus also made frequent references to folk tales. Among his many qualities as a writer was his ability to develop the oral storytelling tradition. An example is the story "Ropet fra Helvetesjuvet" in the collection Raudalsdansen from 1924. In 1926 he wrote the novel Reinsbukken på Jotunfjell, in 1927 the collection Vandringen mot nord, and in 1929 Skogenes eventyrer, stories about a fox. He wrote stories about animals such as beaver, marten, wolves and lynx. He wrote about birds such as goose and eagle owl.

Fønhus concentrated in about writing about life in nature itself. His books sold well and with the growing ecology movement, Mikkjel Fønhus appeared as a pioneer in the fight for preserving nature. He published 43 books on these themes during his life. Another 34 were published after his death. He work has been translated into Swedish, Danish, Finnish, German, French, English, Dutch, Czech and Polish. There is an exhibit of his work at Bagn Bygdesamling, a small museum located in Sør-Aurdal, Norway.

Awards Gyldendal's Endowment 1952 Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, 1963 Kloster-medaljen, 1963 Mads Wiel Nygaards Endowment, 1965 Språklig samlings litteraturpris, 1966