His father, Theodor Kinck (1832–1903), was a local health inspector and his mother, Hanna Guliante Johannesen (1840–1923), was the daughter of a peasant.

[2] Kinck wrote novels, short stories and plays as well as a number of essays on historical and political subjects.

His other Italian pieces are based on stories by Boccaccio, and are rooted in medieval tradition, exploring the ways of love and passion.

They take place in small western valleys, exploring class warfare and the approach of modernity.

His greatest play is generally considered to be Driftekaren (The Herdsman, with references to Peer Gynt).

The Norwegian essays analyzed the split between the saga and the medieval ballad, focusing on the changes in the mood and styles of storytelling from pagan to Christian times in Norway.

Eivind Groven wrote a number of songs based on texts from Kinck's plays.

Wolfgang Plagge and Ludvig Irgens-Jensen have also composed music based on themes from his novels.

Randall Meyers scored the movie Flaggermusvinger (Batwings, 1992), which is based on three of Kinck's short stories.