Mortimer Smith

This is a biography - the first biography - of Ole Bull. It was published in 1943, nearly fifty years after his death. And, as one would expect from a biography, it details the life of Ole Bull.

Ole grew up playing the violin - that's all he wanted to do. Then he grew up into a strong, tall, muscular man with a very handsome face that matched his boisterous, outgoing personality that people in both Europe and the Americas ate up and praised.

He was considered the greatest violinist in the world, and continually sold out out venue after venue after venue, meanwhile meeting with the important figures of the area - and their wives who had strong attractions to him.

He was not only a musician, he attempted to start the Bergen Theatre, to bring the arts into Norway for the first time, and make them the best. With names such as Grieg and Ibsen and Bjornsson, maybe things may work out. However, he bailed to go on more concerts, this time in America.

Here we see how the "rough" Americans, that are uncultured see him: at one point, Ole and his baggage were on a barge and a group of men approached him to fight for the contents. Ole then proceeded to beat the biggest man into submission, who would for the rest of the tour act as Ole's bodyguard.

Later in his life, he purchased an area of land in Pennsylvania and called it "Oleania" - New Norway and was to have it populated and become a colony by fellow Norwegians. He left for business and concerts, came back and the idea was over, flopped, in less than a year.

This romantic of a man was flocked by the women - especially the women of social status, yet he remained true to the second wife he married and retired to his wn personal island of Lysoen outside Bergen.

Ole Bull was an intensely interesting read, because it is about an amazing purpose. Definitely let yourself read some of his adventures, and how he seemingly pioneered the violins and concert going through the world. (He even played atop one of the pyramids in Giza!)

Lacking, however, are sources or a bibliography: he lists only a handful of work that are similar in some respects, but most of what he has is journal, dialogue, or news paper exchange.

Mark Twain had this to say:
"Well what a good time we had at old Mr. Fields's. And what lovable people the Bulls are - both of them. Did you notice her dress? -what a piece of perfection that was. -And what a master-hand she is with a piano. And if Ole Bull had been born without arms, what a rank he would have taken among the poets - because it is in him, & if he couldn't violin it out, he would talk it out, since of course it would have to come out. It would be lovely if they would come & visit us." (Pg. 203)… (més)