Sara Lidman
Encyclopedia
Sara Lidman was a Swedish
writer.
Born in the village Missenträsk in the northern parts of Skellefteå Municipality
, Lidman was raised in the Västerbotten
region of northern Sweden. She studied at the University of Uppsala where her studies were interrupted by her receiving tuberculosis
. She achieved her first great success with the novel Tjärdalen (The Tar Still). In this novel and in Hjortronlandet she depicts themes like alienation and loneliness. In this and her following three novels, she described the difficult conditions for poor farmers in the northern Swedish province Västerbotten
during the nineteenth century.
Her innovative style was influenced by dialects and biblical language.
In connection with her first four novels, she wrote a number of texts with strong political content. She engaged in protest against the Vietnam War
(including traveling to North Vietnam
and participating in the Russell Tribunal
) and apartheid in South Africa
. She also supported the miners strikes in North Sweden and was active in the Communist movement and after that in the environmentalist movement. After 1977, she wrote five additional novels that dealt with the colonization of northern Sweden.
She was awarded a number of prizes, including the Nordic Council's Literature Prize
for her work Vredens barn.
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....
writer.
Born in the village Missenträsk in the northern parts of Skellefteå Municipality
Skellefteå Municipality
Skellefteå Municipality is a municipality in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Skellefteå.-History:Most of the amalgamations leading to the present municipality took place in 1967 when the then "City of Skellefteå" was merged with the rural municipality by the same...
, Lidman was raised in the Västerbotten
Västerbotten
', English exonym: West Bothnia, is a province or landskap in the north of Sweden. It borders Ångermanland, Lapland, Norrbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is famous for the cheese with the same name as the province.- Administration :...
region of northern Sweden. She studied at the University of Uppsala where her studies were interrupted by her receiving tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. She achieved her first great success with the novel Tjärdalen (The Tar Still). In this novel and in Hjortronlandet she depicts themes like alienation and loneliness. In this and her following three novels, she described the difficult conditions for poor farmers in the northern Swedish province Västerbotten
Västerbotten
', English exonym: West Bothnia, is a province or landskap in the north of Sweden. It borders Ångermanland, Lapland, Norrbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is famous for the cheese with the same name as the province.- Administration :...
during the nineteenth century.
Her innovative style was influenced by dialects and biblical language.
In connection with her first four novels, she wrote a number of texts with strong political content. She engaged in protest against the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
(including traveling to North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
and participating in the Russell Tribunal
Russell Tribunal
The Russell Tribunal, also known as the International War Crimes Tribunal or Russell-Sartre Tribunal, was a public body organized by British philosopher Bertrand Russell and hosted by French philosopher and playwright Jean-Paul Sartre...
) and apartheid in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. She also supported the miners strikes in North Sweden and was active in the Communist movement and after that in the environmentalist movement. After 1977, she wrote five additional novels that dealt with the colonization of northern Sweden.
She was awarded a number of prizes, including the Nordic Council's Literature Prize
The Nordic Council's Literature Prize
The Nordic Council Literature Prize is awarded for a work of literature written in one of the languages of the Nordic countries, that meets "high literary and artistic standards". Established in 1962, the prize is awarded every year, and is worth 350,000 Danish kroner...
for her work Vredens barn.
Works
- Tjärdalen, 1953. The Tar Still
- Hjortronlandet, 1955. Cloudberry Land
- Regnspiran, 1958.
- Bära mistel, 1960.
- Jag och min son, 1961. My Son and I
- Med fem diamanter, 1964. With Five Diamonds, 1971.
- Samtal i Hanoi, 1966, Reporting. Conversations in Hanoi, 1967.
- Gruva, 1968, Interviews.
- Marta, Marta, 1970, Drama.
- Din tjänare hör, 1977. Thy Servant Is Listening
- Vredens barn, 1979.
- Nabots sten, 1981.
- Den underbare mannen, 1983.
- Järnkronan, 1985. The Iron Crown
- Lifsens rot, 1996. The Root of Life
- Oskuldens minut, 1999.
- Kropp och själ, 2003.