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John Smith
Mr. Peck
Language Arts II, Period 3
1 March 2014
Selma Lagerlöf: Swedish Literary Voice for Peace
Selma Lagerlöf was the first woman and the first Swede to win the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1909 ("Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlof," Encyclopedia). This is remarkable given
her humble beginnings in an era that did not promote female literary success. Lagerlöf’s early
years and education, influences which helped her achieve fame, awards she won and charitable
acts she performed until her death in 1940, all contributed to her worldwide positive impact.
With efforts underway to make available early films of her works and the success of the 1996
movie, “Jerusalem,” Lagerlöf’s work is still worthy of recognition ("Selma Ottiliana Lovisa
Lagerlof," Almanac).
Lagerlöf was born in 1858 into a wealthy family who lived on a small estate in Sweden.
An early sickness left her with a lifelong limp, and she was a quiet child with a deep love of
reading ("Selma (Ottiliana Lovisa) Lagerlöf," Contemporary). She attended a Teacher’s College
in Stockholm and then worked as a teacher in a girls’ secondary school, while writing in her
spare time, struggling to find a form in which to retell the legends she had heard as a child
("Selma (Ottiliana Lovisa) Lagerlöf," Contemporary). When she won a contest offering a
publishing contract, Gösta Berling's Saga was published in 1891 ("Selma (Ottiliana Lovisa)
Lagerlöf," Contemporary). In addition to popular acclaim, she experienced academic and other
accolades. She was the first woman to become a doctor of honor at a Swedish University in 1907
("Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlof," Almanac). Then, in 1909, she won the Nobel Prize for
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literature. In 1914, she became the first female member of the Swedish Academy ("Selma
Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlof," Encyclopedia). Beyond literature, Lagerlöf was “interested in politics
and was a voice for peace all her life” ("Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlof," Almanac). As World
War II approached, Lagerlöf helped German intellectuals and artists to escape from the Nazi
persecution ("Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlof," Encyclopedia). Such efforts made Lagerlöf an
agent for peace. In the midst of her efforts to provide war relief to those in need, she died of a
stroke at her home on March 16, 1940 ("Selma (Ottiliana Lovisa) Lagerlöf," Contemporary). Yet
she continues to live on through her literature, which has been translated into more than 50
languages, as well as transformed into theatre, opera and film as seen in the world famous silent
movie “The Phantom Carriage” (1921), “Gösta Berling’s Saga” (1924) starring Greta Garbo, and
the 1996 film “Jerusalem” based on her novel ("Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlof," Encyclopedia).
Lagerlöf is a wonderful example of how determination and education can empower one
to overcome obstacles to fulfilling dreams. She was awarded the Nobel Prize "in appreciation of
the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings"
("Selma (Ottiliana Lovisa) Lagerlöf," Contemporary). Along with achieving a personal dream of
becoming a writer, Lagerlöf also helped other people to experience success, such as the female
right to vote and to achieve acclaim in literature and other fields. She also assisted oppressed
groups such as the Jewish and Finnish people during World War II ("Selma Ottiliana Lovisa
Lagerlof," Encyclopedia). Her literary works continue to delight and inspire readers and creative
artists one hundred and fifty years after her death.
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Works Cited
"Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlof." Almanac of Famous People. Gale, 2011. Biography in
Context. Web. 22 Jan. 2014.
"Selma (Ottiliana Lovisa) Lagerlöf." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2002.
Biography In Context. Web. 9 Jan. 2014.
"Selma Ottiliana Lovisa Lagerlöf." Encyclopedia of World Biography.” Detroit: Gale, 1998.
Biography In Context. Web. 9 Jan. 2014.