Egeland, Tom

Norwegian author and journalist, born in Oslo and raised in the suburb of Kalbakken in Groruddalen, where his parents had a couple of shops. One of his forefathers is Jon Flatabø from Kvam in Hardanger, who wrote so-called ‘folkedikter’ and was one of the pioneers in Norwegian popular literature. As a young teenager, Egeland was for a short period active in the Christian youth club Heimdal, but he broke with religion already during the preparations for his confirmation. He attended Nordtvet folkeskole, Groruddalen ungdomsskole and studied at Oslo Katedralskole 1975–79, during which time he spent a study year (1977-78) in Denver and Salt Lake City in the USA. His host family were Mormons and belonged to the sect the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.