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48(5
iv. education and mental culture.
Brott" (Crime and Crime), and later a great dramatic cycle from Swedish history
from the Middle Ages to Gustavus III, and among these especially "Gustavus
Vasa". As a dramatist Strindberg stands foremost in Swedish literature. In
his later development Strindberg relinquished his radical naturalism in many
respects, and embraced mystical views in connection with the religious tenets
set forth by Swedenborg in the 18th century. — The life of the peasantry and
the middle classes was portrayed in a fresh and good-natured style by one of
our most industrious novel-writers, O. af Geijerstam (1858 —1900), who has also
written comedies, the best being those that deal with the people’s life. As
lyricists two Scanian authors were prominent, A. U. Bååth (1853—1912) and
O. Hansson (born 1860). Two of the most prominent representatives of this
literary movement, Anna Charlotta Leffler, duchessa di Cajanello (1849—92), and
Viktoria Benedictsson (1850—88, pseudonym "Ernst Ahlgren"), died young.
Many young poets stood forth in opposition to the realistic school. V. von
Heidenstam (born 1859) at first fought against the great lack of imagination
and joy of life that characterized the prevailing school, and published lyrical
poems and romances displaying highly coloured pictures from the variegated life
of the Orient full of fancy and the stimulation of life. His later works — as,
for instance, the historical cycle of novels, "Karolinerna" (The heroes of
Charles XII) — are inspired by love of the nature and history of Sweden.
Simultaneously with Heidenstam, O. Levertin (1862—1906) also broke with realism.
His imagination was fructified by medieval mysticism, and there is something of
the pre-raphaelite in his poems, as is the case with contemporary French authors,
an esthetic sensualism is mingled with spiritualism. In his latest scientific
prose works and short stories his tone is healthier, while at the same time his
art is perfected.
One of our most national poets is G. Fröding (1860—1911), who, without
allegiance to any certain school, paints Värmland scenery and folk-life of his
own village with matchless freshness and humour as Burns did that of Scotland.
During a poetic career of only a few years he made a contribution to Swedish
lyrics perhaps greater than any other writer before him. In masterly handling
of rhymes and metres he stands on a level with Bellman.
Selma Lagerlöf (born 1858) stands in the foremost rank of recent Swedish
novel-writers. Her novels are distinguished by something of the simplicity and
clearness of the classical epic. Her imagination is inexhaustible, her conception
in a high degree poetical and soulful, and her psychological intuition of a
power rare in Swedish literature. Her works, among which is The Story of
Gösta Berling, the first she wrote, are translated into practically all European
languages. She has won the Nobel prize for literature. With her may be
mentioned also a few other living authoresses, viz.: Ellen Key (born 1849),
who has aroused attention by her treatment of social problems; Helena Nyblom
(born 1843, a Dane), who in her mother-tongue has written lyrics, but in
Swedish, sketches and sagas; Alfhild Agrell (born 1849), dramatist; and the
novel-writers Anna Wahlenberg (born 1858), Mathilda Mailing (born 1864),
Sophie Elkan (born 1853), Hilma Angered-Strandberg (born 1855), Marika
Stjernstedt (born 1875) and Elin Wägner (born 1882).
Among the more noted authors of our day may be mentioned also: A. T.
Gellerstedt (1836—1914), an original miniature painter in words; K. A. Melin
(born 1849) whose poems deal with the Stockholm Archipelago; F. Vetterlund
(born 1865), V. Ekelund (born 1880), and A. Österling (born 1884) are known
as authors of the "Skåne-school" (Skåne is a province of South-Sweden); D.
Fallström (born 1858), fyrical poet; E. A. Karlfeldt (born 1864), lyrical poet with
warm feeling and rustic humour descriptive of Dalarne; F. Hedberg (1828 — 1908),
dramatist, like his son T. Hedberg (born 1862); P. Molin (1864 — 96), spirited
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