The Greatest Works of Selma Lagerlöf: The Story of Gösta Berling, The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness, Jerusalem

Selma Lagerlöf

Nov 2023 · DigiCat

About this eBook

DigiCat presents this meticulously edited and formatted Selma Lagerlöf collection. Selma Lagerlöf was a Swedish author and teacher. She was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Through her studies in Stockholm, Lagerlöf reacted against the realism of contemporary Swedish-language writers such as August Strindberg. She began her first novel, Gösta Berling's Saga, while working as a teacher in Landskrona in 1887. A visit in 1900 to the American Colony in Jerusalem became the inspiration for Lagerlöf's book by that name. The royal family and the Swedish Academy gave her substantial financial support to continue her passion. Jerusalem was also acclaimed by critics, who began comparing her to Homer and Shakespeare, so that she became a popular figure both in Sweden and abroad. By 1895, she gave up her teaching to devote herself to her writing. In 1902, Lagerlöf was asked by the National Teacher's Association to write a geography book for children. She wrote The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, a novel about a boy from the southernmost part of Sweden, who had been shrunk to the size of a thumb and who travelled on the back of a goose across the country. Lagerlöf mixed historical and geographical facts about the provinces of Sweden with the tale of the boy's adventures until he managed to return home and was restored to his normal size. The novel is one of Lagerlöf's most well-known books, and it has been translated into more than 30 languages. Content: The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Christ Legends Charlotte Löwensköld The Emperor of Portugallia Invisible Links The Girl from the Marsh Croft The Treasure Jerusalem The Miracles of Antichrist Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness The Story of Gösta Berling

About the author

Selma Lagerlöf (1858–1940) was a groundbreaking Swedish author whose imaginative storytelling reshaped Scandinavian literature. Born in the Varmland province of Sweden, which would later serve as a lush backdrop for many of her narratives, Lagerlöf ardently pursued her passion for writing from a young age, despite initial opposition based on her gender. Lagerlöf's unique blend of realism and fantasy granted her wide appeal, as seen in her critical and popular successes. Her literary style, characterized by a melding of folklore and history with a compassion for the human condition, earned her international acclaim. Lagerlöf's notable oeuvre includes works such as 'Gösta Berlings Saga' (1891), a romanticized portrayal of Varmland's history, and 'The Wonderful Adventures of Nils' (1906-07), a children's book which gained her recognition beyond her native Sweden. It was her deep narrative voice and her ability to weave the mystical with the mundane that led to her historical achievement as the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909. Her collection 'The Greatest Works of Selma Lagerlöf' showcases the breadth of her storytelling prowess, encompassing her most significant works. Lagerlöf was also a member of the Swedish Academy and heavily involved in social issues of her time. Her legacy endures, etching her name in the annals of classic world literature.