Biography

Harry Martinson was born on May 6, 1904 in Nyteboda, Blekinge län, Sweden. He was a writer and actor, known for Aniara (2018), Vägen till Klockrike (1953) and Aniara (1986). He was married to Moa Martinson. He died on February 11, 1978 in Karolinska sjukhuset, Solna, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Received the Nobel prize in literature in 1974 "for writings that catch the dewdrop and reflect the cosmos". He shared the prize with Eyvind Johnson.

Most famous books: "Nässlorna blomma" (1935), "Vägen till Klockrike" (1948) and "Aniara" (1956). He has also written psalm no 202 in the Swedish hymn book.

After his Nobelprize in 1974 he developed mental instability. In 1978 his condition was so bad that he was rushed to a hospital (Karolinska sjukhuset), there he committed sucide by cutting up his stomach with an hospital scissor, in other words: harakiri. He was 73 years old.

Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, Vol. 130, pp. 286-290. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.