Birger Sjöberg (1885–1929) was a Swedish poet, novelist and songwriter, whose best-known works include the faux-naïf song collection Fridas Bok (Frida's Book) and the novel Kvartetten Som Sprängdes (The Quartet That Split Up),[1] a somewhat Dickensian relation about stock-exchange gambling in the twenties, and the frantic efforts to recover.
Birger Sjöberg | |
|---|---|
 Sjöberg in the mid-1920s | |
| Born | 6 December 1885 Vänersborg, Sweden |
| Died | 30 April 1929 (aged 43) Växjö, Sweden |
| Occupation(s) | poet, novelist, songwriter |
Originally a journalist, Sjöberg wrote songs in his spare time. His debuted as a serious writer with the 1922 publication of Fridas Bok (Frida's Book), which was both a critical and popular success. Following a series of concert tours, he withdrew from public life and focused on his writing.[1]
After his death in 1929, a new series of songs and a selection of poems were published.[1]
Selected works
editProse and poetry by Birger Sjöberg:
- Fridas Bok (Frida's Book) 1922
- Kvartetten Som Sprängdes (The Quartet That Split Up) 1924
- Kriser Och Kransar (Crises And Laurel Wreaths) 1926
- Fridas Andra Bok (Frida's Second Book) 1929
- Minnen Från Jorden (Memories From The Earth) 1940
Translations of his works in English
editHis life in English
editImage gallery
edit-
Birger Sjöberg's birthplace in Vänersborg -
Birger Sjöberg's grave at the Donation Cemetery in Helsingborg -
Frida statue in Vänersborg -
The Quartet That Split Up 1962
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's encyclopedia of literature, (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster,1995) p. 1038.
- ^ Anthology of Swedish Lyrics, trans. by Charles Wharton Stork, (New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1930).
- ^ Modern Swedish Poetry Pt. 2, trans. by C. D. Locock, (London: H. and W. Brown, 1936).
- ^ Scandinavian Songs and Ballads, trans. by Helen Asbury, (Mullsjö: Anglo-American Center, 1950).
- ^ Twentieth Century Scandinavian Poetry, trans. by Helen Asbury and Martin S. Allwood, (Stockholm: Kooperativa Förbundets Bokförlag, 1950).
- ^ Twelve Pieces from Frida’s Book, trans. by Michael Roberts, (Grahamstown: Michael Roberts, 1975).
- ^ When First I Ever Saw You LP, trans. by Tom Fletcher and Michael Roberts, (Stockholm: Sonet, 1980).
- ^ Swedes On Love CD, trans. by Roger Hinchliffe, (Stockholm: Roger Records, 1991).
- ^ Frida's New Clothes, trans. by Stork, Locock, Asbury, Roberts . . ., (Vänersborg: Birger Sjöberg-sällskapet, 2008).
- ^ A History of Swedish Literature by Alrik Gustafson, (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1961).
- ^ A History of Swedish Literature by Ingemar Algulin, (Stockholm: Swedish Institute, 1989).
- ^ A History of Swedish Literature edited by Lars G. Warme, (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1996).
External links
edit
- Free scores by Birger Sjöberg in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki).
- Birger Sjöberg at the Umeå Academic Choir.
Swedish
- Birger Sjöberg at Swedish music and film.
- Fridas bok at Project Runeberg.
- Fridas andra bok at Project Runeberg.
- Fridas bok at Swedish Wikisource.
English
Translations