Published since 2008
Published on October 18, 2011
NANSEN'S NAKED PHOTOS STIR FUSS
- A new book about Norwegian explorer and statesman Fridtjof Nansen bares just a bit more of the man himself than some biographers and Nansen admirers can bear themselves, Nordic Labour Journal reported. Its collection of love letters and naked photos from an ageing but infatuated Nansen has set off debate and even a warning from Facebook. Fridtjof Nansen met Brenda Ueland when he was 67, and fell madly in love. He died the year after. Timed for publication just as Norway is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Nansen's birth, the book is decidedly different from new biographies that are out about the man, or those written over the past many decades. It's based, in both Norwegian and English versions, on passionate love letters that Nansen wrote to the last love of his life, Norwegian-American writer Brenda Ueland. The letters, all originally written in English, eventually landed in the hands of writer, publisher and editor Eric Utne of Minneapolis, whose grandfather was married to Ueland and whom Utne greatly admired. After encouragement from some professional acquaintances in Norway, Utne decided to publish the letters through his Utne Institute, along with some of the photos the couple exchanged during the last year of Nansen's life, in 1929. Included among them are some showing Nansen, who had a long history as a ladies' man, posing stark naked. He was clearly proud of his physique, even at the age of 67 and 30 years older than Ueland. "There is not a corner of my heart or soul which I do not wish you to look into…" he wrote to her. The letters themselves are considered compelling and erotic, and have been described by Norwegian editor and journalist Per Egil Hegge in the book's introduction as "so earnest, so intense and so beautifully written, it is more appropriate to classify them as literature." Hegge, who spent several decades working for Norway's largest newspaper Aftenposten and has himself written biographies of Nansen and King Harald, claims they "take us far from the mists and glaciers of Nansen's Arctic adventures" and offer a glimpse of "his poetic soul." The fuss erupted when Aftenposten wrote two stories about the book before a ceremonial launch this week. The stories not only incorrectly identified Nansen's first wife as "Liv" instead of "Eva" but also focused mostly on the photos and published two of them in full-frontal version, which editor Utne claims "shocked" him and also seemed to shock Facebook. Aftenposten's link to its stories on its Facebook page set off an indignant warning from Facebook that Aftenposten was violating its rules against posting material against nudity or content of a sexual nature. Nansen's reflections on his passion for Ueland, his affairs with other women and his thoughts on jealousy and Ueland's lesbian relationship at the time struck a nerve at Facebook, which promptly removed the link to Aftenposten's stories on Utne's book. That in turn set off amazement among press officials in Norway, who believe Facebook has overreacted. Per Edgar Kokkvold, head of the press association Norsk Presseforbund, laughed when contacted by Aftenposten about the Facebook incident while Elin Floberghagen, head of the national journalists' union, called it "a display of moralism that is very un-Norwegian." In the American version of the book, the photos are cropped so only Nansen's bare torso is shown. Utne, perhaps best-known in the US for founding the popular and highly praised alternative magazine Utne Reader, claimed in an e-mail that he "never intended for Nansen's full nude photos to be published in the newspapers." He already was facing opposition from Nansen's descendants who weren't pleased about the letters and photos being published, while some other Nansen biographers feel the letters were private or that it wasn't necessary to reveal their contents. Historian Karin Berg, who earlier wrote a book about Nansen and the women in his life, went on national TV in Norway Monday night (NRK2) to argue that the letters never should have been published nor the photos shown. She also claimed she was "shocked" when she first read the letters a few years ago, and opted not to use them in her own book.
© Tert.am
Headlines for October 18, 2011FRENCH COURT FINDS L'OREAL HEIRESS UNFIT TO RUN BUSINESS
L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt is to be placed under the guardianship of family members, the lawyer of her estranged daughter said Monday after a court hearing, according to AFP. France's richest ...ISRAEL START SWAP OF PALESTINE PRISONERS
Palestinian inmates began leaving Israeli jails early Tuesday, setting in motion the historic swap that will trade more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for one captured Israeli soldier, the CNN reported. ...SARKOZY THANKS ARMENIAN PRESIDENT FOR WARM RECEPTION
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sent a letter to his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sargsyan, expressing his gratitude for the exceptional reception he found his Armenia in the course of recent visit ...NEW SUSPECT DETAINED OVER CONSCRIPT'S 'SUICIDE' CASE
A new suspect has been detained over the death of Yurik Muradyan, a servicemen from the Nagorno-Karabakh defense army, reported to have committed suicide earlier. Rafik Mnatsakanyan, a conscript of the ...ARMENIAN DELEGATION ATTENDS INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION'S ASSEMBLY
A delegation led by Armenia's parliament speaker, Hovik Abrahamyan, attended on Sunday the Inter-parliamentary Union's (IPU) 125th Assembly in Bern. According to a press release by the National Assembly, ...BAY AREA ARMENIANS BRIEF ON NAGORNO KARABAKH'S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
On the occasion of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic's (NKR, Artsakh) twentieth anniversary of independence, the Armenian Assembly's Northern California Regional Council (NCRC) held a briefing featuring Robert ...ERDOGAN MOTHER'S DEATH CAUSES DISCORD IN ARMENIAN CHURCH?
The death of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's mother has turned out troublesome for the Armenian church of Istanbul. According to the Turkish newspaper Vatan, several individuals and organizations, ...WITNESSES NOT PROTECTED IN ARMENIA - STUDY
Artur Sakutnts, the head of Helsinki Citizens Assembly's Vanadzor Branch, has voiced concerns over the lack of judicial mechanisms ensuring witnesses' protection in Armenia's courts.
Speaking at a news ...OPPOSITION REP FORECASTS PROSPEROUS ARMENIA'S END
At her meeting with journalists Oct. 18, Zoya Tadevosyan, a member of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC), voiced the opinion that the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) intends to bring back ...BAKU.AM NOW AVAILABLE IN AZERBAIJANI LANGAUGE
The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute launched a unique website covering the social, cultural and business life of the Armenian community of Baku earlier this year. According to a press release by ...PROSPEROUS ARMENIA MAY DAMAGE IT REPUTATION - RULING PARTY REP
Both within and outside Armenia's ruling coalition, the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) is intensifying its activities, Lernik Aleksanyahn, a RPA Council member, told journalists Oct. 18. Under the ...SERJ TANKIAN SUPPORTS OCCUPY WALL STREET PROTERSTERS
Famous American-Armenian singer Serj Tankian expressed support with the Occupy Wall Street protesters in the United States. "I hope that the Occupy Wall Street movement truly turns into a political ...FATHER OF MARKETING TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA
Prof. Philip Kotler, the world-famous marketing expert, is to visit Armenia this November. A Philip Kotler Excellence Center is to open in Yerevan on the margins of his visit, Armen Sargsyan, who is ...ARMENIA PRESIDENT TO VISIT GEORGIA
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is to arrive for an official visit to Georgia Nov. 1. Manana Mandzhgaladze, Spokesperson for the President of Georgian, reported that the Armenian leader will be on ...ANC TO CEASE DEMANDING PRESIDENT'S RESIGNATION - REPUBLICAN MP
The opposition Armenian National Congress will cease demanding the president's resignation in the near future, a lawmaker of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) has said. At a news conference ...NO PROPOSAL VS COALITION MEMORANDUM - ARMENIAN RULING PARTY REP
No one has proposed rejecting the coalition memorandum, the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Gagik Melikyan told journalists Oct. 18. If made, such a proposal will be discussed because there is no ...NANSEN'S NAKED PHOTOS STIR FUSS
A new book about Norwegian explorer and statesman Fridtjof Nansen bares just a bit more of the man himself than some biographers and Nansen admirers can bear themselves, Nordic Labour Journal reported. ...MIGRATION FROM ARMENIA AFFECTS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT- ALIYEV
1
Armenia's decreasing population affects the Karabakh settlement process, according to the Azerbaijani president. Speaking of the country's post-Soviet achievements at a an official reception dedicated ...ARMENIAN HAIRDRESSER WINS SILVER AT INDIVIDUAL WORLD HAIRDRESSING CHAMPIONSHIP IN MILAN
On October 4, in Paris, the Organization Mondiale Coiffure (OMC), announced the winners of its first Individual World Hairdressing Championship. Thirty-nine hairdressers participated in the championship. ...ARMENIA'S FISH EXPORT RECORDS DOUBLE GROWTH
Armenia's fish export recorded a double growth in 2011, according to the Association for Fishbreeders. As the Association's executive director, Artur Atoyan told a news conference on Tuesday, 807 tons ...ACBA CREDIT AGRICOLE BANK OPENS 7TH BRANCH IN YEREVAN
The ACBA Credit Agricole Bank has opened its Armenia branch at the Piazza Grande business center, at 10 Vazgen Sargsyan Str., in Yerevan. Attending the opening ceremony were Chairman of the Central Bank ...RUSSIA TO DIVERSIFY GAS SUPPLIES TO ASIA OVER DISPUTES WITH EU
Russia plans to diversify its gas exports by redirecting some of it to the Asian-Pacific region following the imposition of the Third Energy Package in Europe, Deputy Energy Minister Anatoly Yanovsky ...STATUS QUO CANNOT CONTINUE LONG IN KARABAKH -WILLLIAM BURNS
The existing status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot continue for long and therefore the US considers it as an urgent issue, US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said in Baku. He also ...RUSSIA DENIES NEW FACILITY IN SERBIA IS FOR SPYING
Russia has denied news reports that the emergency relief center it is creating in Serbia will be used to spy on neighboring Romania, where US anti-ballistic missile interceptors are likely to be installed.
According ...ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO TAKE PART IN 21ST SESSION OF THE CE CONGRESS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES
An Armenian delegation led by Armenia's Vice-Premier, Minister of Territorial Administration Armen Gevorgyan will participate in the 21st Session of the CE Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in ...PROSECUTOR SAYS DISCIPLINARY PENALTY ISN'T RELATED TO HIS ACTIVITIES
Deputy Armenian Military Prosecutor General Albert Margaryan has said the disciplinary penalty imposed on him has nothing to do with his professional activities.
"For what the disciplinary penalty was ...BLAST KILLS 5 POLICEMEN, 2 CIVILIANS IN TURKEY'S SOUTHEAST
A roadside blast killed five policemen and two civilians in Turkey's southeast on Tuesday, the AP reported. A police vehicle appears to have been the target for the attack in the town Guroymak in Bitlis ...ARMENIAN COUNTERFEITS OF FOREIGN-MADE VODKAS WILL REMAIN IN LOCAL MARKET
The full elimination of Armenian counterfeit vodkas made under foreign brands from the Armenian market is not realistic, an Agriculture Ministry official has said. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, ...MEDVEDEV SAYS TYMOSHENKO TRIAL ‘INTERNAL AFFAIR'
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday the trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulya Tymoshenko was the country's "internal affair," RIA Novosti reported.
Medvedev, however, stressed that ...LE CAFE DE PARIS IS NOT ON SALE, SAYS OWNER VALERI-ASHKHEN GORTSUNYAN
1
Yerevan-based French-Armenian businesswoman Valeri-Ashkhen Gortsunyan has dismissed allegations that she is going to sell her business and leave Armenia. Speaking to Tert.am Gortsunyan, who is the owner ...US SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON PAYS UNANNOUNCED VISIT TO TRIPOLI
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Libya on an unannounced visit aimed at showing support for the Libyan people and building ties, BBC News reported. Clinton is in the capital, Tripoli, for ...ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN PROJECTS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE COMPLETED, SAYS PUTIN
There should be no doubts that all the Russian-Armenian joint projects will be completed fully, Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has said at a meeting with his Armenia counterpart Tigran Sargsyan. ...RUSSIA TO TOUGHEN REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS
Russia's State Duma has in a first reading adopted a bill that would require prospective adoptive and foster parents to undergo special psychological training, RIA Novosti reported.
First Deputy Speaker ...ARMENIA IS COMMITTED TO GOALS AND SPIRIT OF CAFE
Armenia is committed to the goals and spirit of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CAFE), President Sargsyan said on Tuesday.
At a meeting with Rose Gottemoeller, Assistant Secretary of ...KOSOVO SERBS DEFY NATO DEMANDS OVER BLOCKADES
Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo have defied demands by Nato to remove roadblocks, amid tensions over control of border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo, BBC News reported.
Nato peacekeepers had given the minority ...
© Tert.am
Most read news (last 7 days)MIGRATION FROM ARMENIA AFFECTS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT- ALIYEV
LE CAFE DE PARIS IS NOT ON SALE, SAYS OWNER VALERI-ASHKHEN GORTSUNYAN
OWNER OF ARAY LLC MIGHT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN TO COMMIT SUICIDE
NANSEN'S NAKED PHOTOS STIR FUSS
ARMENIAN-ORCHESTRATED DRUG TRAFFICKING SCHEME DISCLOSED IN LA
ALIYEV CALLS FOR ESTABLISHING AUTONOMY IN KARABAKH?
ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN COMMITS SUICIDE?
ROBBIE KEANE SINGS KARAOKE BEFORE MATCH WITH ARMENIA (VIDEO)
AZERI MP PROPOSES MEETINGS BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND AZERI COMMUNITIES OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH
ARMENIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION APPEALS ITURRALDE GONZALEZ'S REFEREEING
© AUA
Today in Armenian history- 1859 Birth of Kreesstapor Meekayelyan, one of the three founders of the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation" Party. He died in 1905.
- 1895 Sultan Abdul Hamid the Second signs the reforms that were proclaimed on 1895 05 11. They were never implemented despite increasing unrest.
- 1968 2750th anniversary celebrations of Yerevan's foundation.
- 1991 The Azerbaijani Republic confirms is independence by adoption of the Constitutional Act and, a few weeks later, adopts a resolution abolishing the Nagorno Gharabagh Autonomous State".
Forum most active discussions
ARMENIAN NEWS
INTERACTIVE NEWS
INFORMATION
MY ARMTOWN
How to quit smoking?
How to write in Armenian on Windows XP?
All materials published on this website are taken from open sources and are copyrighted by their respective owners. You cannot reproduce or copy any materials published on armtown.com without written consent of original copyright holder. If you want to remove any material, please send us an email with proof of ownership/copyright and your material will be removed immediately. All materials published for information purposes only.