2020-03-16 Mon

Selma Lagerlof, a Swedish author, and teacher passed away on 16th March 1940. In 1909 she became the first woman and also the first Swedish writer to win the Nobel Prize for literature and is perhaps best known for her children’s book The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson (1906).

She was born on 20th November 1858, in Ostra Emterwik, Varmland, Sweden to Erik Gustaf Lagerlof, a lieutenant in the Royal Varmland Regiment. She had been writing poetry ever since she was a child. In 1885 she became a teacher at the girls’ secondary school in Landskrona.

She published her first novel, Gosta Berling Saga, at the age of 33. Some of her notable works are – Antikrists miracle (1897; The Miracles of Antichrist), En herrgardssagen (Tales of a Manor). She was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1909 "in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings."

Several commemorative postage stamps have been issued across the world to honor her. The 100 cent stamp was issued by Germany to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Selma. The other stamp of value 55 Swedish ore stamp was issued by Sweden Postal Department in 1969.

Image Source: colnect.com

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