Erik Axel Karlfeldt (20 July 1864 –8 April 1931) was a Swedish poet whose highly symbolist poetry masquerading as regionalism was popular and won him the 1931 Nobel Prize in Literature posthumously after he had been nominated by Nathan Söderblom,member of the Swedish Academy. [1] Karlfeldt had been offered the award already in 1919 but refused to accept it,because of his position as permanent secretary to the Swedish Academy (1913–1931),which awards the prize. [2]
Karlfeldt was born into a farmer's family in Karlbo,in the province of Dalarna. Initially,his name was Erik Axel Eriksson,but he assumed his new name in 1889,wanting to distance himself from his father,who had suffered the disgrace of a criminal conviction. He studied at Uppsala University,simultaneously supporting himself by teaching school in several places,including Djursholms samskola in the Stockholm suburb of Djursholm and at a school for adults. After completing his studies,he held a position at the Royal Library of Sweden,in Stockholm,for five years.
In 1904,Karlfeldt was elected a member of the Swedish Academy and held chair number 11. In 1905,he was elected a member of the Nobel Institute of the academy,and,in 1907,of the Nobel Committee. In 1912,he was elected permanent secretary of the academy,a position he held until his death.
Uppsala University,Karlfeldt's alma mater,awarded him the title of Doctor honoris causae in 1917.
Uppsala University (UU) is a public research university in Uppsala,Sweden. Founded in 1477,it is the oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation.
Harry Martinson was a Swedish writer,poet and former sailor. In 1949 he was elected into the Swedish Academy. He was awarded a joint Nobel Prize in Literature in 1974 together with fellow Swede Eyvind Johnson "for writings that catch the dewdrop and reflect the cosmos". The choice was controversial,as both Martinson and Johnson were members of the academy.
Swedish literature is the literature written in the Swedish language or by writers from Sweden.
Scandinavian literature or Nordic literature is the literature in the languages of the Nordic countries of Northern Europe. The Nordic countries include Denmark,Finland,Iceland,Norway,Sweden,and Scandinavia's associated autonomous territories. The majority of these nations and regions use North Germanic languages. Although the majority of Finns speak a Uralic language,Finnish history and literature are clearly interrelated with those of both Sweden and Norway who have shared control of various areas and who have substantial Sami populations/influences.
Swedish realism is the period in Swedish literature that encompassed the last two decades of the 19th century. It is generally considered to have ended in the 1910s but the exact year is a matter of debate.
Anders Olsson is a Swedish writer,professor of literature at Stockholm University,literary critic and member of the Swedish Academy.
Bo Johannes Edfelt was a Swedish writer,poet,translator and literary critic.
The Nobel Prize in Literature is a Swedish literature prize that is awarded annually,since 1901,to an author from any country who has,in the words of the will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel,"in the field of literature,produced the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction". Though individual works are sometimes cited as being particularly noteworthy,the award is based on an author's body of work as a whole. The Swedish Academy decides who,if anyone,will receive the prize. The academy announces the name of the laureate in early October. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895. Literature is traditionally the final award presented at the Nobel Prize ceremony. On some occasions,the award has been postponed to the following year,most recently in 2018.
Carl David af Wirsén was a Swedish poet,literary critic and the Swedish Academy's permanent secretary 1884–1912.
Anders Österling was a Swedish poet,critic and translator. In 1919 he was elected as a member of the Swedish Academy when he was 35 years old and served the Academy for 62 years,longer than any other member. He was the Academy's permanent secretary between 1941 and 1964,member of the Nobel committee from 1921 and the committees chairman between 1947 and 1970.
Sara Maria Danius was a Swedish literary critic and philosopher,and a scholar of literature and aesthetics. Danius was professor of aesthetics at Södertörn University,docent of literature at Uppsala University and professor in literary science at Stockholm University.
Erik Axel Blomberg was a Swedish poet,translator and critic.
The 1948 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to British-American poet Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888–1965) "for his outstanding,pioneer contribution to present-day poetry." Eliot is the fourth British recipient of the prize after John Galsworthy in 1932.
The 1916 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Swedish poet and prose writer Verner von Heidenstam (1859–1940) "in recognition of his significance as the leading representative of a new era in our literature." Heidenstam was the second Swedish Nobel laureate in Literature after Selma Lagerlöf in 1909.
The 1931 Nobel Prize in Literature was posthumously awarded to the Swedish poet Erik Axel Karlfeldt (1864–1931) with the citation:"The poetry of Erik Axel Karlfeldt." He was the third Swede to win the prize and remains the only recipient to be posthumously awarded. Karlfeldt had been offered the award already in 1919 but refused to accept it,because of his position as permanent secretary to the Swedish Academy (1913–1931),which awards the prize.
The 1974 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded jointly to Swedish authors Eyvind Johnson (1900–1976) "for a narrative art,farseeing in lands and ages,in the service of freedom" and Harry Martinson (1904–1978) "for writings that catch the dewdrop and reflect the cosmos." The winners were announced in October 1974 by Karl Ragnar Gierow,permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy,and later sparked heavy criticisms from the literary world.
The 1951 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded the Swedish author Pär Lagerkvist "for the artistic vigour and true independence of mind with which he endeavours in his poetry to find answers to the eternal questions confronting mankind." Lagerkvist is the fourth Swedish recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature after Lagerlöf in 1909,Von Heidenstam in 1916,and Karlfeldt in 1931.
The 1917 Nobel Prize in Literature was equally divided between the Danish authors Karl Adolph Gjellerup (1857–1919) "for his varied and rich poetry,which is inspired by lofty ideals," and Henrik Pontoppidan (1857–1943) "for his authentic descriptions of present-day life in Denmark." It is the second of four occasions when the Nobel Prize in Literature has been shared between two individuals.
The 1919 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Swiss poet Carl Spitteler (1845–1924) "in special appreciation of his epic,Olympian Spring." Spitteler received his prize the following year after the Nobel Committee decided that none of the 1919 nominations met the criteria as outlined in Alfred Nobel's will. He is the first Swiss recipient of the literature prize.