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. 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.

Biography

Karlfeldt was born into a farmer's family in Karlbo, in the province of

Dalarna Dalarna (; ), also referred to by the English exonyms Dalecarlia and the Dales, is a (historical province) in central Sweden. Dalarna adjoins Härjedalen, Hälsingland, Gästrikland, Västmanland and Värmland. It is also bordered by Nor ...

. 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 Uppsala University (UU) () is a public university, public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the List of universities in Sweden, oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation. Initially fou ...

, simultaneously supporting himself by teaching school in several places, including Djursholms samskola in the

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

suburb of Djursholm and at a school for adults. After completing his studies, he held a position at the

Royal Library of Sweden The National Library of Sweden (, ''KB'', meaning "the Royal Library") is Sweden's national library. It collects and preserves all domestic printing, printed and audio-visual materials in Swedish language, Swedish, as well as content with Swedis ...

, 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.

, Karlfeldt's alma mater, awarded him the title of Doctor honoris causae in 1917. Karlfeldt was a pantheist.Hildeman, Karl-Ivar. “ERIK AXEL KARLFELDT: AN EVALUATION.” Scandinavian Studies, vol. 40, no. 2, 1968, pp. 81–94.

Works in English

*Modern Swedish Poetry Part 1 (1929) – (trans. by C. D. Locock) *Arcadia Borealis (1938) – (trans. by Charles Wharton Stork) *The North! To the North! (2001) – (trans. by Judith Moffett, five poets including Karlfeldt)

References

External links

*
Short biography at nobel-winners.comList of Works
an
a facsimile of a 1956 edition
both at

Project Runeberg Project Runeberg () is a digital cultural archive initiative that publishes free electronic versions of books significant to the culture and history of the Nordic countries. Patterned after Project Gutenberg, it was founded by Lars Aronsson and ...

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Karlfeldt, Erik Axel 1864 births 1931 deaths People from Avesta Municipality Writers from Dalarna County Members of the Swedish Academy Nobel laureates in Literature Swedish-language poets Uppsala University alumni Swedish Nobel laureates Posthumous Nobel laureates