Vilhelm Moberg - Sweden's greatest writer

Vilhelm Moberg (1898-1973)

Vilhelm Moberg was born in 1898 in Småland in the south of Sweden. He was the the fourth child in a family of seven kids. Through a harsh and simple childhood he early found an interest in the literal world.

With works such as Ride this night, When I was a child and perhaps foremost the amazing Emigrantsaga Moberg has clearly positioned himself as Swedens greatest writer.

Not only was he one of Swedens most succesful writers. His plays had a big success throughout Sweden. Even up to this day one can look at the musical Kristina from Duvemåla (set up by Björn and Benny of ABBA) to see his longlasting influence on the Swedish cultural life.

Moberg has been voted as the most important Swedish journalist during the 20th century. He was from the start very vocal in his opposition against the lack of Swedish resistance towards nazi-Germany and became one of the most active and famous anti-totalitarians in Sweden. Mobergs was also harshly critical of the Soviet Unions war against Finland as well as the politics of Soviet. Over the years he turned into somewhat of a the Swedish populations conscience and he was involved in uncovering major judical scandals as well as arguing against the Swedish monarchy. Instead he favored a republican system based on the Swiss canton election system.

In 1973 he drowned in a lake in Roslagen north of Stockholm. In what apperantly was a suicide.

Works by Vilhelm Moberg published in English

1937 Memory of youth (Sänkt sedebetyg)

1940 The earth is ours (Giv oss jorden)

1954 Unto a good land (Invandrarna)

1956 When I was a child (Soldat med brutet gevär)

1956 Ride this night! (Rid i natt!)

1961 The emigrants (Utvandrarna)

1978 The settlers (Nybyggarna)

1983 Last letter home (Sista brevet till Sverige)

1988 The unknown Swedes (Den okända släkten)

1989 A history of the Swedish people (Min svenska historia)

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