Alexander Kielland

Alexander Kielland a Norwegian writer regarded as a fine author, if not the top drawer, but somewhere in the middle, one does not need to stretch up or bend low to read his work. I read his books when sitting in the library, skiving as my teacher would have said After seven years we, who didn't have what was said, did not need further education since we were worker material, which in a way, makes sense after all, most of us ended up in factories as our elders had. The day before our sour-faced teacher gave his farewell speech, and, gave us advice on how to go through life humble and respectful of higher orders, I read a short story by AK about little Marius, who could not grasp the Latin language. The priest had told him he could not be a cleric if he didn't understand Latin, his teacher despaired, and his poor parents ashamed that their youngest son was so dense and refusing to learn Latin verbs. I can't remember how the story ended, but little Marius disappeared, fled to Germany became a tycoon in the valley of the Ruhr bought a big castle and denied he was little Marius. His sons joined the Nazi party and and were the first go to defeat Norway to squash rumors of the Marius, unable to learn Latin and AK books were banned. When our teacher came into the room, we stood at attention at our desks He told us which factories were seeking apprentices and stables needing lads to run errands He looked at me and said, there is a training job for cobblers I impress upon those who are hopeless to seek employment as cobblers. No, I'm not little Marius, but I do live abroad.