Anni Blomqvist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anni Blomqvist
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| Born | Anni Viktoria Karlsson 7 October 1909 Simskäla, Vårdö, Åland, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire |
| Died | 26 June 1990 (aged 80) Simskäla, Vårdö, Åland, Finland |
| Language | Swedish |
| Nationality | Ålandic |
| Spouse | Valter Blomqvist |
| Children | Tommy (1939–1961) Bengt (1945–1987) |
| Relatives | Sally Salminen, writer: 2nd cousin |
Anni Viktoria Blomqvist (October 7, 1909 – June 26, 1990), born Karlsson, was a well-known writer from the Åland Islands. She wrote her books in Swedish. Her stories often shared what life was like for people living on these islands.
Contents
Anni Blomqvist's Life Story
Early Life and Family
Anni Blomqvist was born in Vårdö, a part of Åland. She was the first of ten children in her family. Her father, Viktor Karlsson, was a fisherman. Anni's grandmother also lived with them. This grandmother later became the inspiration for a character in Anni's books.
In 1936, Anni married Valter Blomqvist, who was a seaman. They had four children together. Their family made a living by fishing, shipping goods, and doing a little farming.
Helping Her Community
Anni was very active in her local community. She led the local Martha organisation, which helped arrange useful courses for people. She also helped organize vaccinations to keep everyone healthy. Anni worked hard to bring electricity to the Åland Islands.
Her journey as a writer began in 1949. She won first prize in a writing contest for a short story she wrote.
Becoming a Writer
In 1961, Anni faced a very sad time. Her husband, Valter, and son, Tommy, went missing during a fishing trip. They were never found, likely lost in a storm. Anni started writing a diary to help her cope with her sadness. This diary later helped her write her first novel, I stormens spår (In the Wake of the Storm), which came out in 1966. People really liked her first book.
Her Famous Books
Two years later, in 1968, Anni published the first book in her most famous series, Stormskärs-Maja. This series had five books in total. It told the story of a woman named Maja, who was married to a fisherman. Maja faced many challenges in her tough life on the islands. The Stormskärs-Maja books became very popular. In 1975, they were even made into a well-loved television series.
After the last book in the series was published in 1973, Anni worked with a professor named Stig Jaatinen. They studied the people and communities on the Åland Islands. Their study was published as a book called Simskäla in 1977.
In 1979, Anni started another book series called Anna Beata. The first book in this trilogy was partly based on the life of her own grandmother.
Anni faced another tragedy in 1987 when her son Bengt drowned. She wrote about this very personal and sad experience in her book Havet finns inte mer (The Sea Is No More), which was published in 1989.
Anni Blomqvist's Legacy
Anni Blomqvist lived her whole life in Vårdö, Åland, and passed away there. Today, her home can be visited by groups who want to learn more about her life and work. A special scholarship is also given out each year in her name.
Anni Blomqvist was honored on a stamp issued on March 21, 2009, by the postal service of Åland. The stamp shows a picture of Anni next to a traditional Åland house, which was inspired by her Stormskärs-Maja novels. This stamp was part of a collection called Åland Authors.
