Hjalmar Söderberg
Encyclopedia
Hjalmar Emil Fredrik Söderberg (July 2, 1869 - October 14, 1941) was a Swedish
novelist, playwright, poet and journalist. His works often deal with melancholy and lovelorn characters, and offer a rich portrayal of contemporary Stockholm
through the eyes of the flaneur
. Söderberg is greatly appreciated in his native country, and is sometimes considered to be the equal of August Strindberg
, Sweden's national author.
Born in Stockholm, Söderberg began his literary course at the Swedish news daily Svenska Dagbladet
, age 20. Six years later his first novel was released, Förvillelser (Delusions, 1895), written from the viewpoint of a young dandy aimlessly idling in the capital, recklessly squandering money and love. The somber yet reflective and insightful story would prove typical of much of Söderberg's output. Subsequent to the release of Historietter
(Anecdotes, 1898), a collection of twenty short stories, his next major work - Martin Bircks Ungdom (Martin Birck's Youth, 1901) - was released. Much like Förvillelser in terms of its vivid environmental depiction and acute perception, it follows the development of a young amateur poet. Söderberg's next novel, by some considered his masterpiece, was Doktor Glas (Doctor Glas, 1905). In a frightful tale of vengeance and passion, Söderberg stays true to his detached yet emotionally poignant writing style.
In his later years, Söderberg turned to journalism and theological studies. He was a fierce critic of Nazism
, and wrote often on the subject in the revered Resistance paper Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning
. He died in Denmark
and is buried on Vestre Kirkegård in Copenhagen
.
Söderberg was married to Märta Abenius (b.1881, d. 1932) between the years 1899-1917. They had three children: actress Dora Söderberg-Carlsten
(b. 1899), Tom Söderberg (b. 1900) and Mikael Söderberg (b. 1903). From 1917 he was married in Denmark to Emelie Voss (b. 1876, d. 1957).
Söderberg had for a number of years a stormy on/off relationship with Maria von Platen (b.1871, d.1959), a relationship which is said to have influenced him in his writing, especially his 1906 play Gertrud
, and for the character of Lydia in The Serious Game.
A recent reissue of Paul Britten Austin
's translation of Doktor Glas into English, as Doctor Glas, and with a perceptive introduction by Margaret Atwood
, has meant a rise in his popularity in the Anglo-Saxon literary world.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
novelist, playwright, poet and journalist. His works often deal with melancholy and lovelorn characters, and offer a rich portrayal of contemporary Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
through the eyes of the flaneur
Flâneur
The term flâneur comes from the French masculine noun flâneur—which has the basic meanings of "stroller", "lounger", "saunterer", "loafer"—which itself comes from the French verb flâner, which means "to stroll". Charles Baudelaire developed a derived meaning of flâneur—that of "a person who walks...
. Söderberg is greatly appreciated in his native country, and is sometimes considered to be the equal of August Strindberg
August Strindberg
Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg's career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography,...
, Sweden's national author.
Born in Stockholm, Söderberg began his literary course at the Swedish news daily Svenska Dagbladet
Svenska Dagbladet
Svenska Dagbladet is a daily newspaper in Sweden. The first issue appeared on 18 December 1884. Svenska Dagbladet is published in Stockholm and provides coverage of national and international news as well as local coverage of the Greater Stockholm region...
, age 20. Six years later his first novel was released, Förvillelser (Delusions, 1895), written from the viewpoint of a young dandy aimlessly idling in the capital, recklessly squandering money and love. The somber yet reflective and insightful story would prove typical of much of Söderberg's output. Subsequent to the release of Historietter
Historietter
Historietter is a collection of 20 short stories, written by Hjalmar Söderberg. The stories are known for Söderberg's use of symbolism....
(Anecdotes, 1898), a collection of twenty short stories, his next major work - Martin Bircks Ungdom (Martin Birck's Youth, 1901) - was released. Much like Förvillelser in terms of its vivid environmental depiction and acute perception, it follows the development of a young amateur poet. Söderberg's next novel, by some considered his masterpiece, was Doktor Glas (Doctor Glas, 1905). In a frightful tale of vengeance and passion, Söderberg stays true to his detached yet emotionally poignant writing style.
In his later years, Söderberg turned to journalism and theological studies. He was a fierce critic of Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, and wrote often on the subject in the revered Resistance paper Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning
Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning
Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning was a daily newspaper published in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 1832 to 1973. It was founded in 1832 by publisher Magnus Prytz and had a liberal alignment from the later part of the 19th century....
. He died in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and is buried on Vestre Kirkegård in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
Söderberg was married to Märta Abenius (b.1881, d. 1932) between the years 1899-1917. They had three children: actress Dora Söderberg-Carlsten
Dora Söderberg
Dora Söderberg was a Swedish stage actress.Daughter of the famous Swedish novelist and playwright Hjalmar Söderberg....
(b. 1899), Tom Söderberg (b. 1900) and Mikael Söderberg (b. 1903). From 1917 he was married in Denmark to Emelie Voss (b. 1876, d. 1957).
Söderberg had for a number of years a stormy on/off relationship with Maria von Platen (b.1871, d.1959), a relationship which is said to have influenced him in his writing, especially his 1906 play Gertrud
Gertrud (play)
Gertrud is a Swedish 1906 play , in three parts, by author and playwright Hjalmar Söderberg.-Story description:The play is a modern relationship drama with the middle-age Gertrud in the centre and about her relationships with three different men; her husband Gustav Kanning , her older,...
, and for the character of Lydia in The Serious Game.
A recent reissue of Paul Britten Austin
Paul Britten Austin
Paul Britten Austin was an English author, translator, broadcaster, administrator, and scholar of Swedish literature. He was born in Dawlish, South Devon, England. He was educated at Winchester College...
's translation of Doktor Glas into English, as Doctor Glas, and with a perceptive introduction by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
, has meant a rise in his popularity in the Anglo-Saxon literary world.
Quotations
- "I believe in the lust of the flesh and the incurable isolation of the soul." (From Doctor GlasDoctor GlasDoctor Glas, an epistolary novel by Hjalmar Söderberg, tells the story of a physician in 19th century Sweden who deals with moral and love issues.-Synopsis:...
, later used in GertrudGertrud (play)Gertrud is a Swedish 1906 play , in three parts, by author and playwright Hjalmar Söderberg.-Story description:The play is a modern relationship drama with the middle-age Gertrud in the centre and about her relationships with three different men; her husband Gustav Kanning , her older,...
)
- "One wants to be loved, in lack thereof admired, in lack thereof feared, in lack thereof loathed and despised. One wants to instill some sort of emotion in people. The soul trembles before emptiness and desires contact at any price." (From Doctor GlasDoctor GlasDoctor Glas, an epistolary novel by Hjalmar Söderberg, tells the story of a physician in 19th century Sweden who deals with moral and love issues.-Synopsis:...
)
List of works
- Förvillelser (1895) - "Delusions"
- HistorietterHistorietterHistorietter is a collection of 20 short stories, written by Hjalmar Söderberg. The stories are known for Söderberg's use of symbolism....
(1898) - "Anecdotes" - Martin Bircks ungdom (1901) - "Martin Birck's Youth"
- Främlingarne (1903) - "The Strangers"
- Doktor Glas (1905) - "Doctor Glas"
- GertrudGertrud (play)Gertrud is a Swedish 1906 play , in three parts, by author and playwright Hjalmar Söderberg.-Story description:The play is a modern relationship drama with the middle-age Gertrud in the centre and about her relationships with three different men; her husband Gustav Kanning , her older,...
(1906) (play in three acts) - Det mörknar över vägen (1907) - "It Is Darkening Over The Road"
- Valda sidor (1908) - "Taken Sides"
- Hjärtats oro (1909) - "Worry of the Heart"
- Den allvarsamma leken (1912) - "The Serious Game"
- Aftonstjärnan (1912) - "The Evening Star" (play in one act)
- Den talangfulla draken (1913) - "The Talented Dragon"
- Jahves eld (1918) - "The Fire of Jahves"
- Ödestimmen (1922) - "The Hour of Destiny" (play in three acts)
- Jesus Barabbas. Ur löjtnant Jägerstams memoarer (1928)
- Resan till Rom (1929) - "Trip to Rome"
- Den förvandlade Messias (1932) - "The Changed/Transformed Messiah"
Works in English
- Martin Birck's Youth (1930) - trans. by Charles Wharton Stork.
- Selected Short Stories (1935) - trans. by Charles Wharton Stork.
- Doctor Glas (1963) - trans. by Paul Britten AustinPaul Britten AustinPaul Britten Austin was an English author, translator, broadcaster, administrator, and scholar of Swedish literature. He was born in Dawlish, South Devon, England. He was educated at Winchester College...
. - Short Stories (1987) - trans. by Carl Lofmark.
- The Serious Game (2001) - trans. by Eva Claeson.
- Martin Birck's Youth (2004) - trans. by Tom Ellett.