Artur Lundkvist facts for kids
Artur Lundkvist (born March 3, 1906, died December 11, 1991) was a famous writer, poet, and critic from Sweden. He wrote many books and was a member of the Swedish Academy, a group that helps decide who wins the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Artur Lundkvist wrote about 80 books! These included poems, stories, novels, and travel guides. His books were so popular that they were translated into about 30 different languages. He also helped bring many Spanish and French books to Swedish readers by translating them. Some of the authors he translated even won the Nobel Prize in Literature later on. He was married to another poet, Maria Wine, starting in 1936.
About Artur Lundkvist
Artur Lundkvist was born in a place called Perstorp Municipality in Skåne County, Sweden. He grew up on a small farm. From a young age, he loved to read books. He also enjoyed exploring the countryside around his home.
When he was 20, Lundkvist moved to Stockholm. He wanted to become a writer. He went to a special school called a Folk high school. There, he met other young people who also loved writing.
His first books of poems and his work introducing foreign modernist literature quickly made him a key figure in Swedish writing in the 1930s. He published over 80 books in many different styles. He was also a well-known critic. In 1968, he joined the Swedish Academy. He was part of the Academy's Nobel committee from 1969 to 1986. Artur Lundkvist passed away on December 11, 1991.
His Writings
Artur Lundkvist published his first book of poems, Glöd (which means Glowing Embers), in 1928. He also contributed to an important collection called Fem unga (Five young men) in 1929. He was a very important person in Swedish literary modernism. This was a new way of writing that became popular around 1930. He was one of the leading poets of that time.
His early works were inspired by writers from Scandinavia and America. A big influence was Carl Sandburg. Later, his writing was also shaped by surrealism, a style that uses dream-like images.
In the late 1940s, his books started to show the influence of Spanish writers. These included Pablo Neruda and Federico García Lorca. He also translated their poems into Swedish. He kept writing poetry books, like Liv som gräs (Life as grass, 1954) and Ögonblick och vågor (Moments and waves, 1962). Many people think these are some of his best works.
From the 1950s onwards, he wrote more prose works (like stories and novels). In several books, such as Malinga (1952) and Skrivet mot kvällen (Written towards the evening, 1980), he tried to mix different styles. He combined prose poetry, fictional stories, short essays, personal memories, and travel experiences. He wanted to create a new kind of literature.
Artur Lundkvist was a very busy writer. He also published many articles and short stories. He wrote collections of essays about literature. He also wrote books about his travels to places like South America, India, China, the Soviet Union, and Africa.
His later works also include several historical novels. These are stories set in the past. For example, Snapphanens liv och död (1968) was about snapphanar, who were rebels. Tvivla, korsfarare! (1972) was about crusaders. Krigarens dikt (1976) was about Alexander the Great. And "Slavar för Särkland" (1978) was about vikings.
In 1966, he published his autobiography. This book was called Självporträtt av en drömmare med öppna ögon (Self portrait of a dreamer with open eyes). In 1968, he was chosen to be a member of the Swedish academy.
In 1977, he won a special award called the Golden Wreath. This was at the Struga Poetry Evenings festival in Struga, North Macedonia. He passed away in Solna, Stockholm County.
His Views
Artur Lundkvist supported the idea of a "free socialist" society. He believed in peace and neutrality during the Cold War. This was a time when the world was divided between two big superpowers. He was part of committees that worked for peace. In 1958, he received the Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union.
Selected Works
- Glöd 1928
- Naket liv 1929
- Jordisk prosa 1930
- Svart stad 1930
- Vit man 1932
- Atlantvind 1932
- Floderna flyter mot havet 1934
- Himmelsfärd 1935
- Nattens broar 1936
- Sirensång 1937
- Eldtema 1939
- Ikarus' flykt 1939
- Korsväg 1942
- Dikter mellan djur och gud 1944
- Skinn över sten 1947
- Fotspår i vattnet 1949
- Indiabrand 1950
- Malinga 1952
- Liv som gräs 1954
- Den förvandlade draken 1955
- Vindingevals 1956
- Berget och svalorna 1957
- Vulkanisk kontinent 1957
- Ur en befolkad ensamhet 1958
- Komedi i Hägerskog 1959
- Utsikter över utländsk prosa 1959
- Det talande trädet 1960
- Agadir 1961
- Berättelser för vilsekomna 1961
- Sida vid sida 1962
- Ögonblick och vågor 1962
- Drömmar i ovädrens tid 1963
- Texter i snön 1964
- Sällskap för natten 1965
- Självporträtt av en drömmare med öppna ögon 1966
- Snapphanens liv och död 1968
- Utflykter med utländska författare 1969
- Himlens vilja 1970
- Antipodien 1971
- Tvivla, korsfarare! 1972
- Lustgårdens demoni 1973
- Fantasins slott och vardagens stenar 1974
- Livsälskare, svartmålare 1975
- Världens härlighet 1975
- Krigarens dikt 1976
- Sett i det strömmande vattnet 1978
- Slavar för Särkland 1978
- Utvandring till paradiset 1979
- Skrivet mot kvällen 1980
- Babylon, gudarnas sköka 1981
- Sinnebilder 1982
- Färdas i drömmen och föreställningen 1984
See Also
In Spanish: Artur Lundkvist para niños
