Sigrid Margareta Ekström (23 April 1930 – 12 December 2021) was a Swedish poet, novelist, translator, children's writer, literary critic and film critic.

Margareta Ekström
Born
Sigrid Margareta Ekström

(1930-04-23)23 April 1930
Died12 December 2021(2021-12-12) (aged 91)
NationalitySwedish
Occupation(s)Poet, novelist, children's writer, literary critic and film critic
SpouseCarl-Eric Nordberg (1954-1969)
ChildrenJohanna Ekström
AwardsDobloug Prize (1977)

Biography

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Ekström was born in Stockholm in 1930, to Harald Ekström and wife Sigrid Lagervall. She was married to Carl-Eric Nordberg from 1954 to 1969. In the 1960s, she met the writer, Per Wästberg, and they had a long relationship together that eventually ended. With Wästberg, she had two children; Johanna Ekström, who is also a writer, and Jakob Wästberg, an entrepreneur. In 1996, Ekström suffered a debilitating stroke, and was unable to write, read, or speak, afterwards. She died on 12 December 2021, at the age of 91.[1][2][3]

Career

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Ekström had a Bachelor's degree and was a literary critic for Expressen from 1961 to 1983, and a worked at Sydsvenskan from 1974 to 1982.[4] During her life, she held several positions in cultural institutions in Sweden, including membership of the Swedish Film Review Council (1960–1967), the Radio Board (1967–1970), as a board member of the Swedish Film Industry (1974–1977) and vice-chairperson of Svenska PEN (1968–1981). She was also a board member of the Swedish Institute (1979–1983) and member of the Bonniernämnden (1971–1985).[4]

Works

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Ekström made her literary debut in 1960 with the short story collection Aftnar i S:t Petersburg.[5] in 1973, she wrote a book addressed to her daughter, titled Ord till Johanna (Words to Johanna).[3] in 1990, she published a collection of poetry titled Skärmar (Screens) to critical acclaim.[6] She notably translated several of Virginia Woolf's books into Swedish, including Orlando, and several stories.[7]

Awards

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  • 1964 – Albert Bonnier Scholarship Fund for Younger and Newer Writers
  • 1970 – Literature Promotion Scholarship
  • 1972 – Vi Magazine Literature Prize
  • 1977 – Dobloug Prize
  • 1989 – Gun and Olof Engqvist Scholarship
  • 1993 – Golden Pen from the Gastronomic Academy
  • 1997 – The Nine Winter Prize
  • 1998 – Litteris et Artibus
  • 2000 – Signe Ekblad-Eldh Prize

References

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  1. ^ Anjefelt, Monica (13 December 2021). "Författaren och översättaren Margareta Ekström är död". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Dagens Nyheter".
  3. ^ a b "Johanna Ekström vill återupprätta sin mamma". www.vk.se (in Swedish). 19 August 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b "280 (Vem är det : Svensk biografisk handbok / 1993)". runeberg.org (in Swedish). Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  5. ^ Godal, Anne Marit (ed.). "Margareta Ekström". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Svenska Dagbladets historiska arkiv". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. ^ Holm, Birgitta (13 December 2021). "Ekströms skarpa blick genomlyste livet". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 15 December 2021.