author

Sigvart Sörensen

b. 1849

A Norwegian-born editor and historian writing for immigrant readers in America, he brought Norway’s past to English-speaking audiences at the end of the 19th century. His work blends national history with a clear sense of pride in Norwegian culture and independence.

1 Audiobook

Norway

Norway

by Sigvart Sörensen

About the author

Born in 1849, Sigvart Sörensen is best known as the author of Norway, a history of the country published in 1899 as part of The World’s Best Histories. In that book, he set out to give readers a broad, readable account of Norway’s past, from the Viking Age to the modern constitution.

The book itself identifies him as editor of Minneapolis Tidende, a Norwegian-American newspaper in Minneapolis. That detail suggests he was writing for a community of immigrants and descendants who wanted to stay connected to Norwegian history, language, and identity while living in the United States.

Although not much biographical information was readily confirmed beyond his 1849 birth year, his surviving work shows a writer deeply interested in making history accessible. His tone is practical and informative, with a strong emphasis on major events, key sources, and Norway’s political development.