He graduated in law in 1857, and shortly afterwards began to practice at Kongsvinger, a town located between Lake Mjøsa and the border with Sweden.

During the four following years he devoted himself almost exclusively to journalism, working hard and without much reward, but acquiring the pen of a ready writer and obtaining command of a style which has proved serviceable in his subsequent career.

Having obtained this small pension from the Government, he sought the greatest contrast he could find in Europe to the scenes of his childhood and started for Rome.

[8] In his works, Jonas Lie often sought to reflect in his writings the nature, folk life, and social spirit of the nation of Norway.

His writing often dealt with family life in diverse settings, including portraying the social and intellectual restrictions on women of the educated classes.

[10] His two collections of short stories called Trold involve the superstitions of the fishermen and coast commoners of northern Norway.