Nobel Prize in Literature
1 appearances
-
Edition 9 (1909) Winner
Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf
セルマ・オッティーリア・ロヴィーサ・ラーゲルレーフ
Selma Lagerlöf
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1858-11-20 （Mårbacka, Värmland, Sweden）
- Died
- 1940-03-16 （Mårbacka, Sweden） age 81
- Nationality
- Swedish
- Languages
- Swedish, English, French
- Religion
- Lutheran (Church of Sweden)
- Residence History
- Mårbacka (birthplace; later owned and lived) → Stockholm (teacher training) → Landskrona (worked as a schoolteacher) → Falun (residence and literary connections) → Jerusalem (travel inspiration)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Teacher
- Active Years
- 1885-1940
- Affiliations
- Swedish Academy (Seat No.7)
- Memberships
- Swedish Academy
- Influenced By
- Family folktales and grandmother's storytelling, Thomas Mayne Reid (early inspiration)
- Influenced
- Nelly Sachs (protected and supported), Later Swedish children's and regional writers
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Högre lärarinneseminariet (Royal Women's Superior Training Academy), Stockholm | Teacher training | Education | — | 1882–1885 | Sweden |
Högre lärarinneseminariet (Royal Women's Superior Training Academy), Stockholm
Teacher training
/ Education
Period:
1882–1885
Year of Graduation:
1885
Country:
Sweden
Studied English and French. Completed teacher training and worked as a country schoolteacher.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | Nobel Prize in Literature | — | — | Swedish Academy / Nobel Foundation | 受賞 |
| 1909 | Litteris et Artibus | — | — | Royal Swedish | 受賞 |
| 1926 | Illis quorum | — | — | Royal Swedish | 受賞 |
| 1907 | Honorary Doctorate (Uppsala University) | — | — | Uppsala University | 授与 |
| 1928 | Honorary Doctorate (University of Greifswald) | — | — | University of Greifswald | 授与 |
Nobel Prize in Literature
1909
Organization:
Swedish Academy / Nobel Foundation
Result:
受賞
Litteris et Artibus
1909
Organization:
Royal Swedish
Result:
受賞
Illis quorum
1926
Organization:
Royal Swedish
Result:
受賞
Honorary Doctorate (Uppsala University)
1907
Organization:
Uppsala University
Result:
授与
Honorary Doctorate (University of Greifswald)
1928
Organization:
University of Greifswald
Result:
授与
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Gösta Berling's Saga
1891 Novel (epic/legendary) 350 pagesAn epic tale set in Värmland about the fallen clergyman Gösta Berling and a cast of characters, combining legend, folklore and themes of redemption.
Folklore and legendRedemption and renewalRegional identity (Värmland)
Adaptations
- [Film] Film adaptations of Gösta Berling's Saga / 複数（Victor Sjöström ら） (1920)
Translations
- Translated into multiple languages (English translations from 1898 onward)
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
1906 Children's literature, travel narrative 320 pagesA boy named Nils is shrunk and travels across Sweden on a goose, learning about the country's geography and history while undergoing personal growth; a popular children's classic.
Bildungsreise (coming-of-age)Geography and national landscapesHuman-animal companionship
Adaptations
- [Animation / Film] Adaptations of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
Translations
- Translated into more than 30 languages
Körkarlen (Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness!)
1912 Gothic / supernatural novel 200 pagesA supernatural tale dealing with death, guilt and redemption. Famously adapted into the acclaimed 1921 film The Phantom Carriage directed by Victor Sjöström.
Death and atonementTime and memoryThe supernatural
Adaptations
- [Film] The Phantom Carriage / Victor Sjöström (1921)
Translations
- Available in English and other translations
Bibliography
- Gösta Berling's Saga (1891)
- The Miracles of Antichrist (1897)
- Herr Arne's Hoard (1903)
- The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1906–07)
- Körkarlen / Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness! (1912)
- The Emperor of Portugallia (1914)
- Mårbacka (Memoir, 1922)
Adaptations
- The Phantom Carriage (1921, dir. Victor Sjöström)
- Sir Arne's Treasure (film adaptation of Herr Arne's Hoard, 1919)
- Jerusalem (1996 film adaptation)
Translations of Works
- The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (English and many other translations)
- Gösta Berling's Saga (multiple English translations)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Folkloric and allegorical narrationLyrical, imaginative descriptionLofty idealism
- Recurring Motifs
- Värmland landscapesFolklore and legendConflict between faith and moralityJourney and transformation
Health
-
Hip dysplasia / dislocation (childhood)出生時および幼年期Caused early childhood lameness but she later recovered partially. The physical limitations are often cited as influencing her imagination and themes.
Legacy
Selma Lagerlöf was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature (1909) and left a major legacy in Swedish and children's literature. Her Mårbacka estate is preserved as a museum; her works have been widely translated and frequently adapted for film.
Museums
- Mårbacka Museum Mårbacka, Värmland, Sweden
Academic Societies
- Swedish Academy
Archives
- National Library of Sweden / Swedish Academy archives
In Popular Culture
- Film adaptations (The Phantom Carriage, Sir Arne's Treasure, Jerusalem, etc.)
- Featured on Swedish 20-krona banknote
Quotes
-
I have been helped by many people. I do not stand here alone.
Source: Banquet speech at the Nobel Prize award ceremony, 1909 (1909)
Trivia
- First woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1909).
- First female member of the Swedish Academy (1914).
- Sold film rights (including unpublished works) to a Swedish film company in 1919.
- Depicted as the first woman on a Swedish 20-krona banknote (issued 1991).
- At the start of World War II she attempted to donate her Nobel medal to raise funds for Finland; the medal was later returned.