Steigardan

"We passed the time as best we could, with harmless diversions around Steigardan."

The farm Steig is mentioned in a purchase letter from 1381. By 1528, it had become two farms, and in 1657 there were six: Olen, Norsen, Nordistuen, Borsen, Nystu (Storsteigen), and Lillesteien (Prestgarden).

The Steig farms are central to Kjell's upbringing and become significant in his authorship. The friends lived close by, just a gate separating them. “The Farmer” (Arne Steigen) in Olen, Simen (Simen Steigen) in Norsen, and the Nordistuen twins (Johan and Sigmund Steien) in Nordistuen. And in Prestegarden lived the pastor’s family, who belonged to the social circle of the Aukrust family. Olen, Norsen, and Storsteigen all have summer pastures in Egnunddalen, so the boys’ gang gathered in the summer as well.

The cast of characters in Kjell's stories was large; the publisher suggested reducing the number to make it easier for readers to follow. Simen, “the farmer”, and my brother were perhaps ascribed more boyish pranks than they actually committed.