LAGERLF, SELMA

born Nov. 20, 1858, Mrbacka, Sweden died March 16, 1940, Mrbacka Selma Lagerlf, 1909 in full Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlf novelist who in 1909 became the first woman and also the first Swedish writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. An illness left her lame for a time, but otherwise her childhood was happy. She was taught at home, then trained in Stockholm as a teacher, and in 1885 went to Landskrona as schoolmistress. There she wrote her first novel, Gsta Berlings saga, 2 vol. (1891). A chronicle of life in the heyday of her native Vrmland's history, the age of prosperous iron founders and small manors, the book recounts the story of the 12 Cavaliers, led by Gsta Berling, a renegade priest of weak character but irresistible charm. Written in a lyrical style, full of pathos, it showed the influence of Thomas Carlyle and played a part in the Swedish Romantic revival of the 1890s. In 1894 she published a collection of stories, Osynliga lnkar (Invisible Links), and in 1895 she won a traveling scholarship, gave up teaching, and devoted herself to writing. After visiting Italy she published Antikrists mirakler (1897; The Miracles of Antichrist), a socialist novel about Sicily. Another collection, En herrgrdssgen (Tales of a Manor), is one of her finest works. A winter in Egypt and Palestine (18991900) inspired Jerusalem, 2 vol. (190102), which established her as the foremost Swedish novelist. Other notable works were Herr Arnes Penningar (1904), a tersely but powerfully told historical tale; and Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige, 2 vol. (190607; The Wonderful Adventures of Nils and Further Adventures of Nils), a geography reader for children. World War I disturbed her deeply, and for some years she wrote little. Then, in Mrbacka (1922), Ett barns memoarer (1930; Memories of My Childhood), and Dagbok fr Selma Lagerlf (1932; The Diary of Selma Lagerlf ), she recalled her childhood with subtle artistry and also produced a Vrmland trilogy: Lwenskldska ringen (1925; The Ring of the Lwensklds), set in the 18th century; Charlotte Lwenskld (1925); and Anna Svrd (1928). She was deeply attached to the family manor house at Mrbacka, which had been sold after her father's death but which she bought back with her Nobel Prize money. Selma Lagerlf ranks among the most naturally gifted of modern storytellers.