AshehougAgency

Jonas

Since it was published in 1955, Jonas has remained one of the most important novels of the post-war period. The story begins with a missing persons notice for eight year old Jonas Andreassen, who has run away from home. It is soon obvious that the reason for the disappearance lies in a flailed school system, where they try to transfer the clearly bright and normal boy to a special school, the idiot, because of writing and reading difficulties. Bjørneboe uses the protagonist to direct harsh criticism at the school system of that time, and he emphasises and elevates the pedagogy of the Rudolf Steiner Waldorf Schools as the way forward. We also encounter a number of radical, philosophical characters, who are all opposed to the current educational pedagogy, and who in a direct or indirect manner will be responsible for Jonas’ salvation from destruction in the school system.

First published: 1955, Aschehoug
Jens Bjørneboe: Biography and bibliography

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