Famous Swedish Poets

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 1 
August Strindberg
(Father of Modern Swedish Literature)
August Strindberg
9
Birthdate: January 22, 1849
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: May 14, 1912

August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, painter, essayist, novelist, and poet. He wrote over 30 works of fiction and more than 60 plays in an illustrious career that spanned 40 years. Widely regarded as the father of modern Swedish literature, Strindberg is best remembered for his work The Red Room, which is considered the first modern Swedish novel.

 2 
Nelly Sachs
(German-Swedish Poet and Playwright, Known for His Play ‘Eli: Ein Mysterienspiel vom Leiden Israels')
Nelly Sachs
6
Birthdate: December 10, 1891
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Schöneberg, Berlin, Germany
Died: May 12, 1970

Nelly Leonie Sachs, internationally noted German-Swedish poet and dramatist, wrote conventional romantic poems until the rise of Nazism brought about a drastic change in her life. Forced to flee to Sweden, she began writing about the grief and yearnings of her fellow Jews, concurrently translating German works into Swedish and vice-versa. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1966.

 3 
Tomas Tranströmer
(Swedish Poet, Psychologist ,Translator and Winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature)
Tomas Tranströmer
3
Birthdate: April 15, 1931
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: March 26, 2015

Nobel Prize-winning Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer was raised by his mother after his parents split. He initially worked as a psychologist. Known for books such as 17 dikter, he specialized in modernist imagery and metaphors. A skilled pianist, he played with his left hand after his right side was paralyzed.

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 4 
Taslima Nasrin
(Bangladeshi-Swedish Writer Known for Her Writing on Women’s Oppression and Criticism of Religion)
Taslima Nasrin
6
Birthdate: August 25, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Taslima Nasrin is a Bangladeshi-Swedish writer, feminist, physician, activist, and secular humanist. An internationally recognized author, Nasrin is renowned for expressing feminist views and her criticisms of religions. Taslima Nasrin is a recipient of many prestigious awards such as the Sakharov Prize, Freethought Heroine Award, and Erwin Fischer Award.

 5 
Linda Bostrom Knausgard
(Award-Winning Swedish Swedish Author and Poet)
Linda Bostrom Knausgard
3
Birthdate: October 15, 1972
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sweden

Swedish poet and author Linda Bostrom Knausgard is known for her novels Helioskatastrofen and the August Prize-winning Välkommen til Amerika, or Welcome to America. She is also the former wife of Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgård and the daughter of actor Ingrid Boström.

 6 
Pär Lagerkvist
(Swedish Author Who Won the 1951 Nobel Prize in Literature)
Pär Lagerkvist
3
Birthdate: May 23, 1891
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Växjö, Sweden
Died: July 11, 1974

Nobel Prize-winning Swedish author Pär Lagerkvist is remembered for his bestselling novels The Dwarf and Barabbas. He mostly used religious figures to examine the question of good and evil. One of his prose novellas, The Hangman, was later adapted for the stage. He also chaired the Swedish Academy.

 7 
Harry Martinson
(Swedish Writer and Poet Who Won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1974)
Harry Martinson
3
Birthdate: May 6, 1904
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Jämshög, Sweden
Died: February 11, 1978

Nobel Prize-winning Swedish author Harry Martinson grew up in foster homes and ran away at 16 to become a sailor. He was the first working-class author to be named to the Swedish Academy. His best-known works include the poetry collection Trade Wind and the novel The Road.

 8 
Karin Boye
(Considered as One of the Leading Poets of Swedish Modernism)
Karin Boye
3
Birthdate: October 26, 1900
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden
Died: April 24, 1941

Apart from being a famous poet in Sweden, Karin Boye also gained international fame with her sci-fi novel Kallocain. She was one of the chief figures of Swedish modern poetry and of the Clarté Socialist movement. After separating from her economist husband, Leif Björk, she had 2 lesbian relationships. She died by suicide.

 9 
Cornelis Vreeswijk
(One of the Most Successful and Influential Swedish Troubadours of All Time)
Cornelis Vreeswijk
0
Birthdate: August 8, 1937
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: IJmuiden, Netherlands
Died: November 12, 1987

Cornelis Vreeswijk was a Dutch-born Swedish actor, singer-songwriter, and poet. He is often counted among the most successful and influential Swedish troubadours of all time. Cornelis Vreeswijk's life and career inspired the 2010 Swedish drama film, Cornelis, which was directed by Amir Chamdin.

 10 
Stig Dagerman
(Swedish Writer and Journalist)
Stig Dagerman
2
Birthdate: October 5, 1923
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Alvkarleby, Sweden
Died: November 4, 1954

Stig Dagerman was a Swedish writer and journalist. His works became popular in the aftermath of the Second World War as they deal with universal problems of sexuality and social philosophy, of morality and conscience, of love, compassion, guilt, fear, loneliness, and justice. Many of Stig Dagerman's works have been translated into English.

 11 
Carl Boberg
(Swedish Poet and Politician)
Carl Boberg
2
Birthdate: August 16, 1859
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Mönsterås, Kalmar County, Sweden
Died: January 7, 1940

Swedish poet Carl Boberg was born to a carpenter and initially worked as a sailor and Church minister. He penned the Swedish poem O Store Gud, which later led to the English hymn How Great Thou Art. He later also worked as a politician and served the Riksdag for 2 decades.

 12 
Hjalmar Söderberg
(Swedish Author Remembered for His Portrayal of Melancholia and Irony)
Hjalmar Söderberg
2
Birthdate: July 2, 1869
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: October 14, 1941

Swedish author, playwright, and journalist Hjalmar Söderberg had begun his career as a civil servant, before switching to full-time writing. Known for his novels such as Doctor Glas and Martin Birck’s Youth, he also penned short story collections such as Historietter. His themes are often melancholic and cynical.

 13 
Verner von Heidenstam
(Swedish Poet and Novelist Who Received the 1916 Nobel Prize in Literature)
Verner von Heidenstam
2
Birthdate: July 6, 1859
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Olshammar
Died: May 20, 1940

Verner von Heidenstam was a Swedish novelist and poet. He is best remembered for winning the 1916 Nobel Prize in Literature. Verner von Heidenstam is considered an important poet and some of his works continue to be cherished in Sweden.

 14 
Erik Axel Karlfeldt
(Swedish Poet Who Was Awarded the Nobel Prize Posthumously)
Erik Axel Karlfeldt
2
Birthdate: July 20, 1864
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Karlbo, Dalarna, Sweden
Died: April 8, 1931

Swedish poet Erik Axel Karlfeldt is mostly remembered for his regional poetry that portrayed the peasant life and culture of his homeland. He rejected the Nobel Prize once due to his membership of the Swedish Academy that awards the prize but was awarded the Nobel posthumously.

 15 
Ulf Lundell
(Swedish Writer, Musician, Composer, Poet, and Songwriter)
Ulf Lundell
2
Birthdate: November 20, 1949
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Södermalm, Stockholm, Sweden

Ulf Lundell is a Swedish writer, songwriter, poet, musician, composer, and artist. One of the most influential rock musicians in the history of Swedish rock music, Ulf Lundell has also achieved notoriety for his drinking habit and controversial lifestyle. 

 16 
Frans G. Bengtsson
(Swedish Poet, Novelist, Essayist, and Biographer)
Frans G. Bengtsson
2
Birthdate: October 4, 1894
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Tossjo, Sweden
Died: December 19, 1954

Frans G. Bengtsson was a Swedish poet, novelist, essayist, and biographer. He is best remembered for his magnum opus, a biography on Charles XII. Bengtsson is also remembered for his work Röde Orm, a Viking saga novel, which was translated as The Long Ships. 

 17 
Viktor Rydberg
(Swedish Writer and Novelist)
Viktor Rydberg
3
Birthdate: December 18, 1828
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jönköping, Sweden
Died: September 21, 1895

Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish writer best remembered for his novel Singoalla, which was published in 1858. He is also remembered for his most ambitious novel Den siste Atenaren, which was published in 1859. Renowned for his versatility, Viktor Rydberg experimented with different genres, including mythology.

 18 
Gustaf Fröding
(Swedish Author and Poet)
Gustaf Fröding
2
Birthdate: August 22, 1860
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Alster, Sweden
Died: February 8, 1911

Swedish poet and author Gustaf Fröding had initially been a journalist. His works showcase the plight of the down-trodden. He spent much of his life in mental hospitals and sanatoriums. A few passages from his poetry collection Splashes and Spray even led to him being prosecuted for pornography.

 19 
Esaias Tegnér
(Swedish Writer Who was Considered the Father of Modern Poetry in 19th Century Sweden)
Esaias Tegnér
2
Birthdate: November 13, 1782
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kyrkerud, Värmland, Sweden
Died: November 2, 1846

Esaias Tegnér was a Swedish writer, professor, and bishop. He was considered the father of modern poetry in 19th century Sweden. Referred to as Sweden's first modern man, Esaias Tegnér is best remembered for his national romantic epic Frithjof's Saga, which has been translated into many languages including English and German.

 20 
Lars Wivallius
(Swedish Poet, Auditor, Cartoonist, and Adventurer)
Lars Wivallius
2
Birthdate: 1605 AD
Birthplace: Örebro, Sweden
Died: April 6, 1669

Lars Wivallius was a Swedish poet, auditor, cartoonist, and adventurer. Many of his early poetic works are characterized by a lively sense of nature and a warm poetic feeling. Lars Wivallius is also remembered for his skills as a draftsman.

 21 
Gunnar Ekelöf
(Swedish Writer and Poet)
Gunnar Ekelöf
2
Birthdate: September 15, 1907
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: March 16, 1968

Gunnar Ekelöf was a Swedish writer and poet who won numerous prizes for his poetry. An important member of the Swedish Academy, Gunnar Ekelöf is perhaps best remembered for his work Diwan on the Prince of Emgion, which earned him the prestigious Nordic Council Literature Prize in 1966.

 22 
Carl Jonas Love Almqvist
(Swedish Author Who Was a Master of Romanticism and Realism)
Carl Jonas Love Almqvist
1
Birthdate: November 28, 1793
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: September 26, 1866

Swedish author Carl Jonas Love Almqvist was known for his diverse range, which included both romanticism and realism. Known as one of the architects of Swedish literature, he initially served as a school principal. His best-known works include the novels Amorina and The Queen’s Diamond Ornament.

 23 
Eric Stenbock
(Swedish Author and Poet Who Was a Prominent Figure of the 'Decadent Movement')
Eric Stenbock
2
Birthdate: March 12, 1860
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cheltenham, England
Died: April 26, 1895

Remembered as a prominent figure of the Decadent movement and macabre literature, Swedish author and poet Eric Stenbock was known to be eccentric. He owned several animals and reptiles, including a bear and snakes, and also engaged in homosexual relationships. His later life was plagued by drug addiction and alcoholism.

 24 
Erik Gustaf Geijer
(Swedish Writer, Philosopher and Composer)
Erik Gustaf Geijer
1
Birthdate: January 12, 1783
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ransäter, Sweden
Died: April 23, 1847

One of the founding members of the Swedish Geatish Society, which tried to arouse nationalism through historical study, Erik Gustaf Geijer was a historian, philosopher, poet, political and social theorist all rolled into one. A professor of history at the Uppsala University, he had authored number of books and wrote music for many of his poems, chamber works, choirs etc.

 25 
Dan Andersson
(Swedish Author, Composer, and Poet)
Dan Andersson
1
Birthdate: April 6, 1888
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Ludvika, Sweden
Died: September 16, 1920

Dan Andersson was a Swedish author, composer, and poet. He is best remembered as an exponent of proletarian literature, although his works aren't limited to that particular genre. Dan Andersson's poetry is still revered in Sweden due to its naturalist mysticism.

 26 
Artur Lundkvist
(Swedish Poet, Writer, and Literary Critic)
Artur Lundkvist
1
Birthdate: March 3, 1906
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Perstorp Municipality, Sweden
Died: December 11, 1991

Artur Lundkvist was a Swedish poet, writer, and literary critic. He published around 80 books during his lifetime and many of his works have been translated into nearly 30 languages. Lundkvist is also remembered for translating works of other authors from French and Spanish into Swedish. Also a political activist, Lundkvist was honored with the Lenin Peace Prize in 1958.

 27 
Georg Stiernhielm
(Swedish Civil Servant, Mathematician and Poet)
Georg Stiernhielm
1
Birthdate: August 7, 1598
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vika, Sweden
Died: April 22, 1672

Swedish civil servant and author Georg Stiernhielm is regarded as the father of Swedish poetry. Best known for his epic poem Hercules, he had also penned works on philology and history and was a mathematician, too. He also laid stress on the use of Swedish words, eliminating foreign words from his vocabulary.

 28 
Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht
(Swedish Feminist and Poet Known for Her Sensitive Love Poems)
Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht
1
Birthdate: November 28, 1718
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: June 29, 1763
Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht was a Swedish poet, salon hostess, and feminist. Such was her popularity that she was the only female member of a popular literary fellowship called Tankebyggarorden, which was active in the 1750s and early 1760s. Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht was also popular in Germany and one of her poems was appreciated by Empress Elizabeth of Russia.
 29 
Anna Maria Lenngren
(Swedish Poet and Women’s Rights Activist)
Anna Maria Lenngren
1
Birthdate: June 18, 1754
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Uppsala, Sweden
Died: March 8, 1817
Anna Maria Lenngren was a Swedish poet best remembered for her 1794 poem, Advice to my dear daughter, if I had one. One of the most popular poets in Swedish history, Lenngren enjoyed great success and her works are widely read even today! She is also remembered for her fight against male double standards prevalent during her time.
 30 
Johannes Anyuru
(Poet and author known for Only The Gods Are New, Omega, The Cities Inside Hall)
Johannes Anyuru
0
Birthdate: March 23, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Borås, Sweden
 31 
Erik Johan Stagnelius
(Swedish Romantic Poet Who Lived an Obscure Life)
Erik Johan Stagnelius
1
Birthdate: October 14, 1793
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Öland, Sweden
Died: April 3, 1823

One of the most prominent Swedish romantic poets, Erik Johan Stagnelius worked as a civil servant in Stockholm. He is best known for his dramas The Martyrs and The Bacchantes. Not much is known about his life, except that he died of a chronic and mysterious condition at age 29.

 32 
Johan Henric Kellgren
(Poet)
Johan Henric Kellgren
1
Birthdate: December 1, 1751
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Floby, Sweden
Died: April 20, 1795
 33 
Olof von Dalin
(Swedish Nobleman, Poet and Historian Who Wrote the First Easily Readable and Popular Swedish Works)
Olof von Dalin
1
Birthdate: August 29, 1708
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Vinberg, Sweden
Died: August 12, 1763

Swedish author and historian Olof von Dalin is remembered for his pioneering contribution in bringing in Enlightenment into Swedish culture. He anonymously wrote the first literary periodical of Sweden, Then swänska Argus. His best-known works include the allegory The Tale About the Horse and the folk ballad The Hat Ballad.

 34 
Gustaf Philip Creutz
(Statesman)
Gustaf Philip Creutz
1
Birthdate: May 1, 1731
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Anjala, Finland
Died: October 30, 1785

Gustaf Philip Creutz was a Swedish diplomat, statesman, and poet. He is credited with drafting the first Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between the United States and Sweden along with Benjamin Franklin whom he had met in Paris where he was serving as an ambassador.

 35 
Göran Tunström
(Swedish Author Known for His Depictions of His Native Region 'Sunne')
Göran Tunström
1
Birthdate: May 14, 1937
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Karlstad, Sweden
Died: February 5, 2000

Swedish author and poet Göran Tunström is remembered for his depictions of his native region, Sunne; for his autobiographical tone; and for his magic realism. Though he was active as an author for a long time, it wasn’t until his work Juloratoriet was made into a movie that he gained popularity.

 36 
Birgitta Trotzig
(Writer)
Birgitta Trotzig
1
Birthdate: September 11, 1929
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Gothenburg, Sweden
Died: May 14, 2011
 37 
Bo Bergman
(Writer)
Bo Bergman
1
Birthdate: October 6, 1869
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: November 17, 1967
 38 
Lars Gyllensten
(Swedish Physician and Author)
Lars Gyllensten
1
Birthdate: November 12, 1921
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: May 25, 2006

Lars Gyllensten was a Swedish physician and author. He started his career as an associate professor of histology at the Karolinska Institute from 1955 to 1973. In 1973, he left the institute to focus solely on his career as a writer. Few of Lars Gyllensten's literary works have been translated into German, French, and English.

 39 
Per Daniel Amadeus Atterbom
(Poet)
Per Daniel Amadeus Atterbom
1
Birthdate: January 19, 1790
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Boxholm Municipality, Sweden
Died: July 21, 1855
 40 
Werner Aspenström
(Poet)
Werner Aspenström
0
Birthdate: November 13, 1918
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Norrbarke, Sweden
Died: January 25, 1997
 41 
Birger Sjöberg
(Poet)
Birger Sjöberg
0
Birthdate: December 6, 1885
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Vanersborg, Sweden
Died: April 30, 1929
 42 
Lucidor
(Poet)
Lucidor
1
Birthdate: October 6, 1638
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: August 13, 1674
 43 
Oscar Levertin
(Poet)
Oscar Levertin
0
Birthdate: July 17, 1862
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Valdemarsvik Municipality, Sweden
Died: September 22, 1906

Oscar Levertin was one of the finest poets and literary historians of his country and one of most prominent figures of the Swedish Romantic movement. His best-known works include Kung Salomo och Morolf and the short-story volume Rococonoveller. He was also the University of Stockholm’s first chair of literary history.

 44 
Ola Hansson
(Poet)
Ola Hansson
0
Birthdate: November 12, 1860
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Hönsinge, Sweden
Died: September 26, 1925
 45 
Frans Mikael Franzén
(Finnish-Swedish Poet and Bishop of the Diocese of Härnösand)
Frans Mikael Franzén
1
Birthdate: February 9, 1772
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oulu, Finland
Died: August 14, 1847

Finnish-Swedish poet Frans Mikael Franzén, who had been the Bishop of the Diocese of Härnösand, was also one of the pioneers of the Romantic movement in Sweden. Initially a professor of philosophy, he later reformed Swedish poetry, inspired by the likes of Shakespeare and Milton.

 46 
Thomas Thorild
(Swedish Poet and Critic Who Opposed the Influence of French Classicism on Swedish Culture)
Thomas Thorild
0
Birthdate: April 18, 1759
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bohuslän, Sweden
Died: October 1, 1808

Thomas Thorild was a Swedish poet, philosopher, critic, and feminist. He is best remembered for promoting women's rights and gender equality. Thorild was popular among women not only for his ideas of gender equality but also for his good looks. Thomas Thorild also served as a librarian and professor at the University of Greifswald.

 47 
Carl Snoilsky
(Poet)
Carl Snoilsky
0
Birthdate: September 8, 1841
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: May 19, 1903
 48 
Erik Lindegren
(Author)
Erik Lindegren
0
Birthdate: August 5, 1910
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Luleå, Sweden
Died: May 31, 1968
 49 
Karl Vennberg
(Poet)
Karl Vennberg
0
Birthdate: April 11, 1910
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Alvesta Municipality, Sweden
Died: May 12, 1995
 50 
Carl Gustaf af Leopold
(Poet)
Carl Gustaf af Leopold
0
Birthdate: February 26, 1756
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Died: November 9, 1829