W Norwegii i poza nią funkcjonuje głęboko ugruntowany pogląd - że 100 lat temu kraj ten był nadzwyczaj ubogą krainą - na peryferiach arktycznych Europy - zamieszkałą przez nieokrzesanych barbarzyńców - analfabetów. I dopiero po II wojnie światowej nastąpiła jego cudowna przemiana w krainę mlekiem i miodem płynącą. Tymczasem okazuje się, iż rzeczywistość była zgoła odmienna. Wiek temu Norwegia nie była wcale biedniejsza od swych sąsiadów skandynawskich i w ogóle europejskich. Pod wieloma zaś względami przodował na tle ówczesnej Europy. Mit norweskiego Kopciucha transformującego się błyskawicznie w piękną nordycką księżniczkę ma wiele korzeni. Jednym z nich - może najważniejszym - jest agitpropaganda polityków, którzy konstruując i upowszechniając taką zero - jedynkową dychotomię - mogli swoim działaniom, swojej polityce, z powiedzeniem przypisać olśniewający sukces.
Najpewniej także - to moje w jakiś stopniu osobiste doświadczenie - pewien wpływ na ukształtowanie się opinii o biednej i zacofanej Norwegii sprzed stu lat - miał Knut Hamsun, autor bestselleru pt. "Głód".
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"Along with the myth that Norway and Norwegians were incredibly poor, other myths that persist are that Norwegians were immature, undemocratic and backwards in a number of ways.
The population was said to be a narrow-minded bunch that lived far out on the periphery of Europe."This is all wrong," Myhre told the Academy gathering.
"Around 1900, Norway was among the richest countries in Europe," he said.
During this period, Norway had the highest life expectancy of any nation in the world. The country was also technologically advanced, where, for example, Hammerfest in Finnmark County was the first city in the world to get electric streetlights. The first cinema showing in the world was in Paris, and the second was in Christiania (now Oslo) in 1896.
Norway at this time also had the world's highest literacy rate.
The country was one of the first to grant voting rights to women. And the nation was also culturally far ahead, compared to a number of other countries at this time."

"How, more than a hundred years ago, did Norway become part of an exclusive club with rich and developed countries in northwestern Europe, including the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand?
Myhre offers some possible explanations:
Norway has long had a strong state government. This was true even before Norway was liberated from Denmark in 1814.
The 19th century was a peaceful time for Norway.
The country established the rule of law early on and developed a sound public bureaucracy.
Another factor might have to do with geographical location. A country with a long open coastline allowed for great opportunities in fishing and shipping. This access also opened Norway to the world, both financially and mentally.
Norway has a lot of forest. This allowed the construction of homes and other buildings, provided firewood for fuel, and was the country's most important export product for many years.
"Or perhaps the explanation lies in the need for Norwegians to work in many different occupations," he said.
"In a country where agriculture was limited, we had the opportunity to do work within a lot of different occupations such as fishing, shipping, mining, forestry and crafts," he said."

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