Swedish Writers on Writing

Swedish Writers on Writing, the eighth book in the Writer's World series, offers many points of entry for scholars, writers, creative writing students, and general readers. Although the anthology is not intended as a crash course in Swedish literary history, it includes many important facets of the tradition, highlighting Sweden’s poetry, film, working-class novels, and children’s stories.

Names that should be well known to American readers include playwright August Strindberg (Master Olaf, Miss Julie, Selma Lagerlöf (the first female author to win the Nobel Prize and author of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils), Astrid Lindgren (author of Pippi Longstocking), Tove Jansson (creator of Moomin), filmmaker Ingmar Bergman (The Seventh Seal, Fanny and Alexander), and Nobel Prize-winning poet Tomas Tranströmer.

In addition, readers will discover many Swedish authors they have never heard of. A variety of genres is represented, with an emphasis on essays and autobiographical writing. The pieces, which date from 1909 (an interview with August Strindberg) to 2010 (manifestos by young authors), are all considered contemporary to some extent. All have vital information to share on the craft and magic of writing.

As with other books in the Writer’s World series, Swedish Writers on Writing has an introduction and introductory headnotes for each author. Writer's World titles include Mexican Writers on Writing, Nineteenth-Century American Writers on Writing, Chinese Writers on Writing, Hebrew Writers on Writing, Irish Writers on Writing, Polish Writers on Writing, and Romanian Writers on Writing.