Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940)
Author of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
About the Author
Selma Lagerlöf, winner of the Nobel Prize in 1909, was the first woman to be elected a member of the Swedish Academy. Her first novel, The Story of Gosta Berling (1891), assured her position as Sweden's greatest storyteller. She retold the folk tales of her native province, Varmland, in an show more original and poetic prose. As a woman writer, Lagerlöf gained a reputation as a naive purveyor of native traditions, but she herself compared writing a novel to solving a mathematical problem. Her artistry entails making her stories seem simple, but they are told with great attention to symbolism, psychology, and narrative technique. The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1906) is a delightful fantasy written to teach children about Swedish geography, but it has found an international audience. Her third novel and masterpiece, Jerusalem (1901--02), the story of farmers from Dalarna who follow their faith to the Holy City, was widely praised for its insights into the lives of peasants searching for a spiritual ideal. During World War II, Lagerlöf helped many German artists and intellectuals escape the Nazis, even donating her gold Nobel Prize medal to a benefit fund to help Finland. She died of a stroke on March 16, 1940. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Selma Lagerlöf - photo edited by Pieter Kuiper
Series
Works by Selma Lagerlöf
Ingrid ; Charlotte Löwensköld ; De vlucht naar Egypte ; De zweetdoek van de heilige Veronica 15 copies
En herrgårdssägen ; Herr Arnes penningar 14 copies
Mårbackablomster 7 copies
Sakari Topelius 7 copies
Novelas escogidas 5 copies
Geschichten und Legenden 5 copies
Skrifter. 3, Anna Svärd 2 5 copies
El anillo del general 4 copies
Nils Holgerssons schönste Abenteuer 4 copies
La Infanoj de Betlehem 4 copies
En saga om en saga 4 copies
Geschichten und Sagen 4 copies
El Maravilloso Viaje de Nils Holgersson: Premio Nobel de Literatura (Spanish Edition) (2017) 4 copies
Stenen i sjön Rottnen 4 copies
Kootut teokset 2 / Selma Lagerlöf 3 copies
El Niño Duende y Otros Cuentos 3 copies
Soosauniku tütar : [jutustus] 3 copies
The Greatest Works of Selma Lagerlöf: The Story of Gösta Berling, The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, Thy Soul… (2020) 3 copies
The Greatest Christmas Stories & Poems in One Volume: 150 Tales, Poems & Carols (Illustrated): Silent Night, Ring Out… (2015) — Author — 3 copies
The Ring of the Lowenskolds including The General's Ring, Charlotte Lowenskold, & Anna Svard (1931) 3 copies
Cudowna podróż; t.2 3 copies
Skrifter 3 copies
Trollmusik 3 copies
Mors porträtt och andra berättelser 3 copies
Cuentos y Leyendas 2 copies
Generosidad de corazón / Petter Nord 2 copies
El Niño Duende 2 copies
Erzählungen 2 copies
A Christmas Guest 2 copies
Die Lichtflamme 2 copies
Mors porträtt och andra noveller 2 copies
Slåtterkarlarna på Ekolsund 2 copies
Selma, Anna och Elise : brevväxling mellan Selma Lagerlöf, Anna Oom och Elise Malmros åren 1886-1937 (2009) 2 copies
Meli och andra berättelser 2 copies
Dockteaterspel 2 copies
Wonderful Adventures of Nils, The 2 copies
Valda berättelser 2 copies
Astrid och andra berättelser 2 copies
El carretero de la muerte. El esclavo en su finca y otras narraciones (SC549) (Spanish Edition) (2006) 2 copies
Miraklet i Diamante 2 copies
Das heilige Leben Roman 2 copies
Hoa hồng trắng đêm giáng sinh 2 copies
Cuộc du hành kì diệu của Nils 2 copies
Nils Holgerssons underbara resa 2 copies
Karoliinin sormus 2 copies
Legender ; Drottningar i Kungahälla 2 copies
Unsichtbare Bande Erzählungen 2 copies
Nuoren tytön päiväkirja 1 copy
Skrifter (IV) 1 copy
Vejen mellem himmel og jord 1 copy
Troll och människor [1] 1 copy
Tarinoita 1 copy
Hüljatu : [romaan] 1 copy
KOOTUT TEOKSET 4 1 copy
Gesammelte Werke: Romane Erzählungen Sagen (86 Titel in einem Buch - Vollständige deutsche Ausgaben):… (2014) 1 copy
Wunderbare Reife 1 copy
La saga di Gosta Berling 1 copy
El mundo de los gnomos 1 copy
Petter Nord 1 copy
Fortellinger 1 copy
En gammel kirke 1 copy
Tale Thott y otras historias 1 copy
Julberättelser 1 copy
Erst ich ein Stück, dann du! Klassiker - Nils Holgersson: Nacherzählt von Frauke Nahrgang (2011) 1 copy
LÖWENSKÖLSKA RINGEN 1 copy
Oud en Nieuw 1 copy
Podzim 1 copy
Jerusalem II 1 copy
Jerusalem I 1 copy
Sigrid la Superbe 1 copy
Maldición 1 copy
Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise durch Schweden. Zweiter Teil der Reise. (Hörspiel Kassette) 1 copy
Oeuvres - tome 2 - l'empereur du portugal, l'anneau des lowenstrold, les ecus de messire arne, l'anneau… (1979) 1 copy
Legendy o Kristovi 1 copy
Wunderbare Reise des kleinen Nils Holgersson mit den Wildgansen (Nobelpreis fur Literatur, 1909) 1 copy
Nils Holgerson 1 copy
Geschichten und Legenden 1 copy
Une Légende de Jérusalem 1 copy
Selma Lagerlöf. Le Merveilleux voyage de Nils Holgersson à travers la Suède : ENils Holgerssons… (1962) 1 copy
Skrifter 1-12 1 copy
The Treasure 1 copy
Löwensköldův prsten 1 copy
Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise. Mit einem Vorwort von Isabel Abedi: Arena Kinderbuch-Klassiker (2010) 1 copy
Clara Aurelia, Emperatriz de Portugal. Premio Nobel de Literatura de la Academia Sueca. (1958) 1 copy
Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise mit den Wildgänsen: Erster & Zweiter Teil in einem Band. Auch bekannt als: Die… (2018) 1 copy
Cassetten (Tonträger), Die wunderbare Reise des kleinen Nils Holgersson mit den Wildgänsen 1, 1 Cassette (2000) 1 copy
Un viaje maravilloso 1 copy
Ett äfventyr i Vineta 1 copy
Aventuras de Nils Holgersson 1 copy
La leggenda di Gosta Berling 1 copy
Das heilige Leben: Roman 1 copy
Selma Lagerlöf, Nils Holgerssons wunderbare Reise mit den Wildgänsen: Vollständige, ungekürzte… 1 copy
The Miracles of Antichrist 1 copy
Ein Weihnachtsgast: Von der Autorin der weltberühmten Geschichten um Nils Holgersson | Zauberhaft illustriert von… (2023) 1 copy
Il pazzo e la fanciulla 1 copy
Skrifter Gösta Berlings saga 1 copy
Legende despre Iisus 1 copy
Legender i urval 1 copy
Elf Kurzgeschichten 1 copy
Krisztus-legendák 1 copy
Eventyr og fortællinger 1 copy
Legender og Fortællinger 1 copy
A Manor House Tale 1 copy
Leyendas de Cristo 1 copy
Kootut teokset 1 copy
Weihnachts-Klassiker unterm Baum: 280 Romane, Erzählungen & Märchen zur schönsten Zeit des Jahres (Illustrierte… (2017) 1 copy
Short Fiction 1 copy
Löwensköldov prsteň 1 copy
Märbacka. Jugenderinnerungen 1 copy
Nils Holgersson - CDs: Nils Holgersson 2. CD: Die Eichhörnchenkinder. Das Schloss Vittskövle. Das Spiel der… (2004) 1 copy
Skrifter : Bind 10 1 copy
Skrifter (11 bind) 1 copy
Skrifter (III) 1 copy
Elsa 1 copy
Bortbytingen 1 copy
Troll och människor. 2 1 copy
Vonken 1 copy
Opere 1 copy
Liovenšioldų žiedas 1 copy
Zdenac mudraca 1 copy
Lagerlof Selma 1 copy
LENDARIOS 1 copy
Skrifter av Selma Lagerlof 1 copy
Från skilda tider 1 copy
Hamburger Lesehefte : Selma Lagerlöf : Die Lichtflamme — Text — 1 copy
Bijeg u Egipat 1 copy
Helga 1 copy
Three stories Scandinavian kings & queens : astrid, sigrid storrade and the silver mine (2016) 1 copy
La junulino el Stormyr 1 copy
Da vida e da morte 1 copy
Unsichtbare Bande 1 copy
Skrifter (Mårbacka) 1 copy
The Rattrap 1 copy
Helga. Marianna 1 copy
Christus-Legenden 1 copy
Herrn Arnes Schatz : Erzählg 1 copy
Julelegender 1 copy
El esclavo de su finca 1 copy
Drottningar i kungahlla 1 copy
Suotorpan tyttö 1 copy
Las mejores novelas de la literatura universal. 20, La novela escandinava en el siglo XIX (1984) 1 copy
Novelas escogidas 1 copy
Astrid 1 copy
Skrifter (Zachris Topelius) 1 copy
Uomini e troll 1 copy
Associated Works
Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of Literature, Vol. 3: Intelligent Family Living (1967) — Contributor — 33 copies
Meesters der Zweedse vertelkunst — Author, some editions — 10 copies
Oogst der tijden : keur uit de werken van schrijvers en dichters aller volken en eeuwen (1940) — Contributor — 10 copies
Los Premios Nobel de Literatura, v.1 — Contributor — 7 copies
The Five Fathers of Pepi, Reproachfully Yours, My Pants When I Die, Saint Veronica's Kerchief (Catholic Family… (1957) — Author — 5 copies
Modern Short Stories — Contributor — 3 copies
Le merveilleux voyage de Nils Holgersson à travers la Suède [Edition Luxe, traduction par Agneta Ségol et Pascale… (1907) — Contributor, some editions — 2 copies
Weihnachten bei den Elchen: Die schönsten Wintergeschichten aus Skandinavien (2015) — Author — 2 copies
Lebensgut — Ein deutsches Lesebuch für Mädchen — 5. Teil (9. Schuljahr) — Contributor — 1 copy
90 Masterpieces You Must Read (Vol.1): Novels, Poetry, Plays, Short Stories, Essays, Psychology & Philosophy (2020) — Contributor — 1 copy
Stories for girls — Contributor — 1 copy
Die Buchgemeinde - Monatsheftefür Literatur, Kunst und Wissenschaft Jahrgang 1927/28 — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Lagerlöf, Selma
- Legal name
- Lagerlöf, Selma Ottilia Lovisa
- Other names
- Лагерлёф, Сельма
- Birthdate
- 1858-11-20
- Date of death
- 1940-03-16
- Burial location
- Sunne
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- Sweden
- Birthplace
- Östra Ämtervik, Värmland, Sweden
- Place of death
- Östra Ämtervik, Värmland, Sweden
- Places of residence
- Mårbacka, Östra Ämtervik, Värmland, Sweden
Stockholm, Sweden
Landskrona, Sweden - Education
- Högre lärarinneseminariet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Occupations
- novelist
short story writer
teacher
memoirist - Relationships
- Olander, Valborg (friend)
Elkan, Sophie (friend)
Tegnér, Esaias (Her grandfather, Daniel Lagerlöf was his cousin)
Sachs, Nelly (friend) - Organizations
- Swedish Academy
- Awards and honors
- Nobel Prize (Literature, 1909)
- Short biography
- Selma Lagerlöf was born in Östra Emterwik in the province of Värmland, western Sweden, and raised at Mårbacka, the family's estate there. Her parents were Erik Gustav Lagerlöf and his wife Louise Wallroth. She had five siblings. An early illness left her lame in both legs for a while, but she recovered and later said she had a happy childhood. She began writing poetry at an early age. She was educated at home, and in 1881 went to Stockholm to train as a teacher. In 1885, she took a job at a girls' high school in Landskrona, where she wrote her first novel, Gösta Berlings Saga (1891). The book went unnoticed at the time but later became her most popular, and played a part in the Swedish Romantic revival of the 1890s. In 1895, she won a scholarship from the Swedish Academy and gave up teaching to devote herself to her writing. After a visit to Italy, she published Antikrists mirakler (The Miracles of the Antichrist, 1897). With her close friend Sophie Elkan, she took a trip to Egypt and Palestine in 1899 that inspired her book Jerusalem (two volumes, 1901–02), her first big hit, which established her as one of the leading Swedish novelists of her generation. Other works included the children's geography book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, 1906). In 1909, Lagerlöf became the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. World War I disturbed her deeply, and she wrote little until publishing her memoirs Mårbacka (1922), Ett barns memoarer (Memories of My Childhood, 1930), and Dagbok för Selma Lagerlöf (The Diary of Selma Lagerlöf 1932). She also produced a trilogy of historical novels set in Värmland: Löwensköldska ringen (The Ring of the Löwenskölds, 1925), Charlotte Löwensköld (1925), and Anna Svärd (1928). She was deeply attached to her childhood home Mårbacka, which was sold after her father’s death, and used her Nobel Prize money to buy it back. She was also a friend of the German-Jewish writer Nelly Sachs, and helped her escape the Nazis to Sweden.
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Group Read, May 2014: Gosta Berlings Saga in 1001 Books to read before you die (May 2014)
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