Families of several resistance fighters consider lawsuit against Marte Michelet – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

– They cannot understand that Gyldendal, as responsible publisher, could publish such a book without any criticism from the source, lawyer John Christian Elden tells NRK.

The book “What did the home front know?” that arrived in 2018 generated a great debate. The author Marte Michelet wanted to challenge the heroic portrait of the Norwegian home front, the resistance movement during World War II.

Gyldendal Managing Director Arne Magnus says that as a serious and important editor, and together with the author, they have done extensive work on the book.

– Today we have only been informed about this case through NRK. We must first see a possible lawsuit from these families and then consider the case, he tells NRK.

New storm around Michelet’s book project

Mars Michelet won awards and received good book messages. “The most important book of the year,” wrote Anna Dagbladet. But the book also received a lot of criticism and generated a lot of controversy.

Now, two years later, he’s assaulting Michelet and his book project again.

In late October, Dreyer’s publisher released a response to Michelet’s book. At 305 pages, historians Elise B. Berggren, Bjarte Bruland, and Mats Tangestuen address the use of sources and presentation in Michelet’s book.

In a VG article, Marte Michelet responds to the criticism. She wrote that the starting point for the project of the three historians as “a bit myopic”: that it was about finding fault.

The fire calls the adults

Elden says they are considering going to court if the book is not removed, but he waits and thinks it won’t be necessary:

– In the first instance, we hope that Gyldendal will remove the book and have some adults read it, and possibly come back with a book they can respond to, says Elden.

If this does not happen, they will consider going to court.

– We must look at the possibilities of a lawsuit on behalf of several of the families who have been injured and who have been dragged into the mud with the help of this book and without there being a basis for it in fact, says Elden.

– Why is it important to them?

– It is very important to them when their ancestors, who are heroes, are scolded and hanged in ways for which there is no cover or source for it. They need a reaction. Whether the judiciary is the best is something we must consider, says Elden.

– How do the dolls know that what is written in the book is wrong?

– We do not have the last word, but we have seen the material presented by Marte Michelet and the publisher, which in many respects is positively wrong. They must correct it, and if they correct it, they will not have the attacks that the book is based on.

He will get his father to wash the reindeer

Jon Elling Whist, who is the son of police officer and resistance fighter Alf T. Pettersen, says he lost sleep when his father was a for-profit human trafficker.

– I almost didn’t believe my own eyes when I read the book. I was shocked, angry and depressed, after a quarter. It’s been two years and I still haven’t found it, Whist tells NRK.

– What are you reacting to?

– Which is a completely incorrect representation of my father.

– Why do you want to participate in this lawsuit?

– Because I want my father to wash reindeer and others. It is a legacy, he says.

When asked what they want to accomplish with a lawsuit, Whist responds:

– We want to draw the book. We want it removed from libraries across the country and we want Gyldendal to apologize without restriction.

Editorial Michelet: First you will see the demand

NRK has been in contact with Marte Michelet and requested an interview. Point to the editor. Gyldendal CEO Arne Magnus responds:

– Of course, we must do a new evaluation if it is the case that these families will sue the editor and the author, says Magnus to NRK.

He said that Gyldendal has had an ongoing dialogue with various families and that the errors they have pointed out have been corrected in the latest issue.

– How does the publisher respond to a possible lawsuit?

– We can take that when the demand is there. Then we will have the opportunity to look specifically at the demand, he responds.

Elden says he will have a meeting with several families next week where they will discuss what to do.