Olaf Skavlan

Olaf Skavlan. Engraving by an unknown artist in the Skilling-Magazin, 1 August 1891. Olaf Skavlan (25 January 1838 – 30 May 1891) was a Norwegian literary historian and playwright.

Personal life Skavlan was born as Ole Skavlan in Stranda Municipality, a son of vicar and politician Aage Schavland (1806–1876) and his wife Gerhardine Pauline Bergh (1817–1884). He was a brother of Sigvald Skavlan, Einar Skavlan, Sr., Aage Skavlan and Harald Skavlan.

In August 1879, Skavlan married Dagmar Kielland (1855–1931) in Stavanger. Through this marriage he became a son-in-law of Jens Zetlitz Kielland, as well as a brother-in-law of Ludvig Daae, Elling Holst, Kitty Lange Kielland, Alexander Kielland, This contributed to an understanding of Wergeland as a liberal political figure, not following the politically conservative tradition that branded Wergelenad as an apolitical wordsmith. Skavlan was appointed as a professor at the Royal Frederick University in 1877. He also co-founded and edited the satirical magazine Vikingen, and between 1882 and 1887 published the periodical Nyt tidsskrift together with Ernst Sars.

Skavlan died in May 1891 in Kristiania.