Pär Lagerkvist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pär Lagerkvist
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Lagerkvist in 1951
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| Born | 23 May 1891 Växjö, Sweden |
| Died | 11 July 1974 (aged 83) Stockholm, Sweden |
| Occupation | poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, short story writer |
| Notable awards | Nobel Prize in Literature 1951 |
Pär Fabian Lagerkvist (born May 23, 1891 – died July 11, 1974) was a famous Swedish writer. He won the 1951 Nobel Prize in Literature. He wrote many different types of books, including poems, plays, and novels.
One of his main ideas was exploring the difference between good and evil. He often used characters from the Christian Bible, like Barabbas and Ahasuerus, to talk about these big questions. Even though he used religious stories, he didn't follow any specific church's rules. He simply wanted to understand what it means to be human in a world that sometimes feels confusing.
Contents
Early Life and Writings
Pär Lagerkvist was born in Växjö, a town in Småland, Sweden. He grew up in a very religious home. He once joked that the only books they had were the Bible and a hymn book!
As a teenager, he stopped believing in traditional Christian ideas. However, he didn't become angry about religion. Instead, he spent his life thinking about people, their beliefs, and their place in a world where old religious answers might not seem to fit anymore.
In his early years, Lagerkvist liked new and modern art styles. He showed this in his writing and in a paper called Ordkonst och bildkonst (Word Art and Picture Art) from 1913.
Exploring Difficult Feelings
One of his first important works was a poetry book called Ångest (Anguish), published in 1916. This book showed his deep sadness and worry. He was scared of death, the First World War, and personal problems. He wanted to know how people could find meaning when a war could kill millions for no good reason.
He wrote: "Anguish, anguish is my heritage / the wound of my throat / the cry of my heart in the world." He also said, "Love is nothing. Anguish is everything / the anguish of living."
But his sadness slowly lessened over time. His later works, like Det eviga leendet (The Eternal Smile, 1920) and Gäst hos verkligheten (Guest of Reality, 1925), showed more hope in people.
A Simpler Style
After The Eternal Smile, his writing style became much simpler and clearer. It was almost like a child's story, but the ideas were still very deep. One Swedish critic said that Lagerkvist was great at explaining big ideas with very few words.
In 1926, he married for the second time. This marriage brought him great happiness and stability. His poetry collection Hjärtats sånger (Songs of the Heart, 1926) shows his love and pride for his wife. This book was much more hopeful than Anguish. It helped him become one of Sweden's best poets of his time.
Speaking Out Against Evil
Lagerkvist became very worried about the rise of harsh and controlling governments in Europe before World War II. His short novel Bödeln (The Hangman, 1933) showed these concerns. It was later made into a play. This work was a strong criticism of Nazism, and a Nazi newspaper even wrote a very negative review of it. He also criticized Fascism in his play Mannen utan själ (The Man Without a Soul, 1936).
In 1940, Pär Lagerkvist was chosen to be a member of the Swedish Academy. This is a very important group that helps decide who wins the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Famous Works and the Nobel Prize
His 1944 novel Dvärgen (The Dwarf) was the first book that made him famous outside of Sweden. It's an interesting and thoughtful story about evil. After this, he wrote the unique play Låt människan leva (Let Man Live, 1949).
The Story of Barabbas
Barabbas (1950) is probably Lagerkvist's most famous book. Many people, including other Nobel Prize winners, called it a masterpiece. The story comes from the Bible.
During the Jewish Passover, the Roman authorities would free one prisoner. The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, asked the crowd if they wanted him to free Jesus or Barabbas, who was a thief and murderer. The crowd chose Barabbas.
The novel follows Barabbas as he tries to understand why he was chosen to live instead of Jesus. He watches Jesus carry the cross and sees him crucified. The rest of Barabbas's life is spent trying to figure out the meaning of this event. A movie based on the novel was made in 1961, starring Anthony Quinn.
Winning the Nobel Prize
In 1951, Pär Lagerkvist won the Nobel Prize in Literature. He received the award "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." This means he was honored for his strong and independent writing that tried to answer life's biggest questions.
He had been suggested for the prize several times before. After Barabbas was published, many people thought he would win. In 1951, he received nine nominations, including from famous French writers. The Swedish Academy decided to give him the prize.
Pär Lagerkvist passed away in Stockholm in 1974 at the age of 83. His wife had died seven years earlier.
Selected Works
Novels and Poetry
- Ångest (Anguish, 1916)
- Det eviga leendet (The Eternal Smile, 1920)
- Gäst hos verkligheten (Guest of Reality, 1925)
- Hjärtats sånger (Songs of the Heart, 1926)
- Dvärgen (The Dwarf, 1944)
- Barabbas (1950)
- Aftonland (Evening Land, 1953)
- Sibyllan (The Sibyl, 1956)
Plays
- Den svåra stunden (The Difficult Hour, 1918)
- Bödeln (The Hangman, 1933)
- Mannen utan själ (The Man Without a Soul, 1936)
- Låt människan leva (Let Man Live, 1950)
See also
In Spanish: Pär Lagerkvist para niños
