Artur Lundkvist
Nils Artur Lundkvist, known as Artur Lundkvist, was a prominent Swedish writer born on March 3, 1906, in Oderljunga, Sweden. He began his literary journey in his teens, writing articles before moving to Stockholm, where he joined a group of young writers called Fem Unga, aiming to innovate Swedish aesthetics. Lundkvist published his first poetry collection, "Glöd," in 1928, and over the next decade, he produced an impressive fifteen volumes, influenced by notable figures like T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and Freud. Although associated with Surrealism, he rejected that label, instead contributing significantly to modern Swedish literature, particularly through his 1939 essay collection "Ikarus' flykt."
Lundkvist's work evolved through personal and historical contexts, including the trauma of World War II and an earthquake in Morocco, which inspired his celebrated poem "Agadir." He remained politically engaged throughout the Cold War but distanced himself from both Western and Soviet influences. Throughout his lifetime, Lundkvist published nearly ninety books and was recognized for his contributions, including receiving the Lenin Prize in 1958. He played a pivotal role in promoting international writers, such as Pablo Neruda, and his legacy continues to impact contemporary Swedish literature. Lundkvist passed away on December 11, 1991, leaving behind a rich body of work and a respected legacy.
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Artur Lundkvist
Writer
- Born: March 3, 1906
- Birthplace: Oderljunga, Sweden
- Died: December 11, 1991
Biography
Nils Artur Lundkvist, known as Artur Lundkvist, was born on March 3, 1906, in Oderljunga, Sweden. His parents were Nils and Charlotta Lundkvist, Swedish farmers. Lundkvist wanted to be a writer from an early age, and began writing and publishing newspaper articles while still in his teens.
After a brief sojourn in Denmark, Lundkvist settled in Stockholm, Sweden, and became a member of the Fem Unga, or Five Young Men. This group was comprised of young writers with little social status or education behind them. Their mission was to challenge traditional Swedish aesthetics.
In 1928, Lundkvist published his first collection of poems, Glöd (embers). These are powerful, youthful poems written largely in free verse. Lundkvist went on to publish an astounding fifteen volumes in the next decade. This early work shows the influence of an international cast of characters including Carl Sandburg, T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and Walt Whitman. In addition, critics find evidence that Lundkvist was also influenced by thinkers such as Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Henri Bergson, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Although Lundkvist has been associated with Surrealism, he refused that label for himself.
Lundkvist met and married his wife, poet Maria Wine, in 1936. In 1939, Lundkvist published a well-received volume of essays, Ikarus’ flykt (the flight of Icarus). This volume set forth the characteristics of modernism in Swedish literature. During the years of World War II, Lundkvist developed what he called panic poetry to express the horrors of war and oppression. After the war, he traveled extensively, in Africa and Asia.
The Cold War years saw Lundkvist growing increasingly political when, ironically, he refused to associate himself with either the Western NATO countries or the Soviet Bloc. When he was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1958, he did not go to Moscow to accept the award, preferring that the Soviets come to Stockholm to make the presentation.
Perhaps Lundkvist’s greatest poetic achievement was his long poem Agadir. The poem is based on Lundkvist and Wine’s experience in an earthquake in Morocco in 1960. This earthquake not only destroyed the city of Agadir, but it also killed more than ten thousand people. The trauma and tragedy of this event indelibly marked Lundkvist and his work.
Lundkvist used another personal experience as the basis for his work during the 1980’s. In 1981, the poet had a stroke and was not expected to live. He later published a volume of poems based on the dreams he had while in a coma. After a period of declining health, Lundkvist died on December 11, 1991.
Lundkvist’s accomplishments are many: He published nearly ninety books in his lifetime as well as scores of critical and philosophical articles. His election to the Swedish Academy and his work on choosing the Nobel Prize winners in literature demonstrates that his fellow Swedes held him in high regard. He was largely responsible for helping bring writers such as Pablo Neruda in the international literary scene. Lundkvist’s work remains a vital force in contemporary Swedish literature.