Birgitta Trotzig
Encyclopedia
Birgitta Trotzig was a Swedish
writer who was elected to the Swedish Academy
in 1993. She was one of Sweden's most celebrated authors, and wrote prose fiction and non-fiction, as well as prose poetry
.
and for the literary magazine Bonniers Litterära Magasin. She married artist and sculptor Ulf Trotzig and lived in Paris
from 1955 to 1972 with her husband; during this period she converted to Roman Catholicism. Through her conversion, she gained access to various aspects of French culture and to Christian
and Jewish mysticism; she became very interested in San Juan de la Cruz and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
.
In 1997, she won the Övralid Prize. Birgitta Trotzig lived in Uppsala
and remained active in public life and with the various projects of the Swedish Academy for much of her later life.
On May 15, 2011, Peter Englund
published the news of Trotzig's death in the evening of May 14, after a long illness.
's most renowned modern writers, having written several novels in which she gave voice to her Catholic
faith (though her perspective is said to have been existential rather than Christian) and her dark visions. Returning themes are the death
and resurrection
of love
. Among her novels are Sjukdomen ("The Illness") (made into the movie Kejsaren, "The Emperor," in 1979) and Dykungens dotter ("The Mud King's daughter") (1985). She also wrote essay
s and articles on poetry
, and works of prose poems: Anima (1982) and Sammanhang ("Contexts") (1996).
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
writer who was elected to the Swedish Academy
Swedish Academy
The Swedish Academy , founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden.-History:The Swedish Academy was founded in 1786 by King Gustav III. Modelled after the Académie française, it has 18 members. The motto of the Academy is "Talent and Taste"...
in 1993. She was one of Sweden's most celebrated authors, and wrote prose fiction and non-fiction, as well as prose poetry
Prose poetry
Prose poetry is poetry written in prose instead of using verse but preserving poetic qualities such as heightened imagery and emotional effects.-Characteristics:Prose poetry can be considered either primarily poetry or prose, or a separate genre altogether...
.
Biography
Trotzig was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, as an only child. The family lived with the maternal grandparents in Gothenburg (her grandfather was a psychiatrist, and young Birgitta used to observe his patients), but her parents became teachers in the countryside of Skane. Trotzig returned to Gothenburg and studied art and literary history, and graduated in 1948. She began writing for the national newspaper AftonbladetAftonbladet
Aftonbladet is a Swedish tabloid founded by Lars Johan Hierta in 1830 during the modernization of Sweden. It is one of the larger daily newspapers in the Nordic countries. Aftonbladet is owned by the Swedish Trade Union Confederation and Norwegian media group Schibsted, and its editorial page...
and for the literary magazine Bonniers Litterära Magasin. She married artist and sculptor Ulf Trotzig and lived in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1955 to 1972 with her husband; during this period she converted to Roman Catholicism. Through her conversion, she gained access to various aspects of French culture and to Christian
Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions...
and Jewish mysticism; she became very interested in San Juan de la Cruz and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ was a French philosopher and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist and took part in the discovery of both Piltdown Man and Peking Man. Teilhard conceived the idea of the Omega Point and developed Vladimir Vernadsky's concept of Noosphere...
.
In 1997, she won the Övralid Prize. Birgitta Trotzig lived in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
and remained active in public life and with the various projects of the Swedish Academy for much of her later life.
On May 15, 2011, Peter Englund
Peter Englund
Peter Englund is a Swedish author and historian, and the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy since 1 June 2009.-Biography:...
published the news of Trotzig's death in the evening of May 14, after a long illness.
Literary career
Trotzig was one of SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's most renowned modern writers, having written several novels in which she gave voice to her Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
faith (though her perspective is said to have been existential rather than Christian) and her dark visions. Returning themes are the death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
and resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
of love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
. Among her novels are Sjukdomen ("The Illness") (made into the movie Kejsaren, "The Emperor," in 1979) and Dykungens dotter ("The Mud King's daughter") (1985). She also wrote essay
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s and articles on poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, and works of prose poems: Anima (1982) and Sammanhang ("Contexts") (1996).
Prose fiction
- Ur de älskandes liv (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1951, "From the Life of Those Who Love")
- Bilder (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1954)
- De utsatta: En legend (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1957, "The Exposed")
- Ett landskap: Dagbok, fragment 54-58 (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1959)
- En berättelse från kusten (1961, "A Tale from the Coast")
- Utkast och förslag (Helsinki: Söderström, 1962; Stockholm: Bonnier, 1962)
- Levande och döda: Tre berättelser (Helsinki: Söderström, 1964; Stockholm: Bonnier, 1964)
- Sveket (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1966)
- Ordgränser (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1968)
- Teresa (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1969)
- Sjukdomen (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1972)
- I kejsarens tid: Sagor (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1975, "In the Time of the Emperor")
- Berättelser (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1977, "Stories")
- Jaget och världen (Stockholm: Författarförlaget, 1977)
- Anima: Prosadikter (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1982)
- Dykungens dotter: En barnhistoria (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1985)
- Porträtt: Ur tidshistorien (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1993)
- Sammanhang: Materialen (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1996)
- Dubbelheten: tre sagor (Stockholm: Bonnier, 1998, "Doubleness: Three Tales")
- Gösta Oswald (Stockholm: Norstedt, 2000)
Essay collections
- Utkast och förslag (1962, "Sketches and Ideas")
- Jaget och världen (1977, "The Ego and the World")