Sigrid Margareta Ekström (23 April 1930 – 12 December 2021) was a Swedish poet, novelist, translator, children's writer, literary critic and film critic.

Biography

Ekström was born in Stockholm in 1930, to Harald Ekström and wife Sigrid Lagervall. She was married to Carl-Eric Nordberg from 1954 to 1969. In the 1960s, she met the writer, Per Wästberg, and they had a long relationship together that eventually ended. With Wästberg, she had two children; Johanna Ekström, who is also a writer, and Jakob Wästberg, an entrepreneur. In 1996, Ekström suffered a debilitating stroke, and was unable to write, read, or speak, afterwards. She died on 12 December 2021, at the age of 91.

Career

Ekström had a Bachelor's degree and was a literary critic for

Expressen ''Expressen'' (''The Express'') is one of two nationwide evening newspapers in Sweden, the other being '' Aftonbladet''. ''Expressen'' was founded in 1944; its symbol is a wasp and its slogans are "it stings" or "''Expressen'' to your rescue". ...

from 1961–1983, and a worked at

Sydsvenskan ''Sydsvenska Dagbladet Snällposten'', generally known simply as ''Sydsvenskan'' (, ''The South Swedish''), is a daily newspaper published in Scania in Sweden. History and profile ''Sydsvenskan'' was founded in 1870. In 1871 the paper merged w ...

from 1974–1982. During her life, she held several positions in cultural institutions in Sweden, including membership of the Swedish Film Review Council (1960–1967), the Radio Board (1967–1970), as a board member of the

Swedish Film Industry Sweden, Swedish film, cinema is known for including many acclaimed films; during the 20th century the industry was the most prominent of Scandinavia. This is largely due to the popularity and prominence of directors Victor Sjöström and especia ...

(1974–1977) and vice-chairperson of Svenska PEN (1968–1981). She was also a board member of the

Swedish Institute The Swedish Institute ( sv, Svenska institutet, ) is a government agency in Sweden with the responsibility to spread information about Sweden outside the country. It exists to promote Swedish interests, and to organise exchanges with other co ...

(1979–1983) and member of the Bonniernämnden (1971–1985).

Works

Ekström made her literary debut in 1960 with the short story collection ''Aftnar i S:t Petersburg''. in 1973, she wrote a book addressed to her daughter, titled ''Ord till Johanna'' (''Words to Johanna''). in 1990, she published a collection of poetry titled ''Skärmar'' (''Screens'') to critical acclaim. She notably translated several of

Virginia Woolf Adeline Virginia Woolf (; ; 25 January 1882 28 March 1941) was an English writer, considered one of the most important modernist 20th-century authors and a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device. Woolf was born i ...

's books into Swedish, including '' Orlando'', and several stories.

Awards

* 1964 – Albert Bonnier Scholarship Fund for Younger and Newer Writers * 1970 - Literature Promotion Scholarship * 1972 - Vi Magazine Literature Prize * 1977 - Dobloug Prize * 1989 – Gun and Olof Engqvist Scholarship * 1993 - Golden Pen from the Gastronomic Academy * 1997 - The Nine Winter Prize * 1998 -

Litteris et Artibus Litteris et Artibus is a Swedish royal medal established in 1853 by Charles XV of Sweden, who was then crown prince. It is awarded to people who have made important contributions to culture, especially music, dramatic art and literature. The ob ...

* 2000 – Signe Ekblad-Eldh Prize

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ekstrom, Margareta 1930 births 2021 deaths 20th-century Swedish novelists Dobloug Prize winners Swedish women novelists Swedish children's writers Swedish women children's writers Litteris et Artibus recipients Swedish women poets Swedish women short story writers Swedish short story writers 20th-century Swedish women writers 20th-century short story writers Writers from Stockholm