Tomas Tranströmer

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Tomas Tranströmer

Tranströmer in 2008
Born Tomas Gösta Tranströmer
15 April 1931 (1931-04-15) (age 80)
Stockholm, Sweden
Occupation Poet
Nationality Swedish
Period 20th century, 21st century
Notable work(s) The Half-Finished Heaven (1962)
Windows and Stones (1966)
The Wild Market Square (1983)
The Grief Gondola (1996)
The Great Enigma (2004)
Notable award(s) Nobel prize winner.svg Nobel Prize in Literature
2011
Spouse(s) Monika Bladh

Tomas Gösta Tranströmer (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈtʊːmas ˈjœsˈta ˈtrɑːnˈstrœmər]) (born 15 April 1931) is a Swedish writer, poet and translator, whose poetry has been translated into over 60 languages.[1] Tranströmer is acclaimed as one of the most important Scandinavian writers since the Second World War. Critics have praised Tranströmer’s poems for their accessibility, even in translation; his poems capture the long Swedish winters, the rhythm of the seasons and the palpable, atmospheric beauty of nature.[1] Tranströmer's work is also characterized by a sense of mystery and wonder underlying the routine of everyday life, a quality which often gives his poems a religious dimension.[2] Indeed, he has been described as a Christian poet.[3] He was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Literature.[4]

Contents

[edit] Life

Tranströmer was born in Stockholm in 1931 and raised by his mother, a schoolteacher, following her divorce from his father.[4][5] He received his secondary education at the Södra Latin School in Stockholm, where he began writing poetry. In addition to selected journal publications, his first collection of poems, 17 dikter (Seventeen Poems) was published in 1954. He continued his education at Stockholm University, graduating as a psychologist in 1956 with additional studies in history, religion, and literature.[4] Between 1960 and 1966, Tranströmer split his time between working as a psychologist at the Roxtuna center for juvenile offenders and writing poetry.[4]

During the 1950s, Tranströmer became close friends with poet Robert Bly. The two corresponded frequently, and Bly would translate Tranströmer's poems into English. Bonniers, Tranströmer's publisher, released Air Mail, a work consisting of Tranströmer and Bly's mail, in 2001.[4] The Syrian poet Adunis helped spread Tranströmer's fame in the Arab world, accompanying him on readings.[6]

Tranströmer went to Bhopal immediately after the gas tragedy in 1984, and alongside Indian poets such as K. Satchidanandan, took part in a poetry reading session outside.[7]

Tranströmer suffered a stroke in 1990 that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak; however, he would continue to write and publish poetry through the early 2000s. His latest original work, The Great Enigma, was published in 2004.

In addition to his writing, Tranströmer is also a piano player, something he has been able to continue after his stroke, albeit with one hand.[5]

[edit] Career

Tranströmer is considered to be one of the "most influential Scandinavian poet[s] of recent decades".[4] Tranströmer has published 15 collected works over his career, which has been translated into over 60 languages.[4] An English translation by Robin Fulton of his entire body of work, New Collected Poems, was published in the UK in 1987 and expanded in 1997. Following the publication of Den stora gåtan (The Great Enigma), Fulton's edition was further expanded into The Great Enigma: New Collected Poems, published in the US in 2006 and as an updated edition of New Collected Poems[8] in the UK in 2011. He published a short autobiography, Minnena ser mig (The Memories see me), in 1993.

In the 1970s, other poets accused Tranströmer of being detached from his own age, since he did not deal overtly with social and political issues in his poems and novels. His work, though, lies within and further develops the Modernist and Expressionist/Surrealist language of 20th century poetry; his clear, seemingly simple pictures from everyday life and nature in particular reveals a mystic insight to the universal aspects of the human mind. A poem of his was read at Anna Lindh's memorial service in 2003.[9]

Tranströmer's awards include the Neustadt International Prize for Literature,[10] the Övralid Prize, the Petrarca-Preis in Germany, the Golden Wreath of the Struga Poetry Evenings and the Swedish Award from International Poetry Forum. In 2007, Tranströmer received a special Lifetime Recognition Award given by the trustees of the Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, which also awards the annual Griffin Poetry Prize.

[edit] Nobel Prize in Literature, 2011

Tranströmer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2011.[4][5] He is the 108th winner of the award and the first Swede to win since 1974.[9][11][12] Tranströmer had been considered a perennial frontrunner for the award in years past, with reporters waiting near his residence on the day of the announcement in years prior.[13] It was also revealed that he had been nominated every single year since 1993.[13] His wife Monica said he had been notified by phone four minutes before the announcement was made.[14] The Nobel Committee stated that Tranströmer's work received the prize “because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality."[4] His wife, Monica accepted the prize on 10 December 2011.[15]

Permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy Peter Englund said, "He's been writing poetry since 1951 when he made his debut. And has quite a small production, really. He's writing about big questions. He's writing about death, he's writing about history and memory, and nature."[13][16] Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt said he was ”happy and proud” at the news of Tranströmer's achievement.[17] Meanwhile, international response to the award has been mixed.[18] The prize announcement led to the immediate reissuing of at least two volumes of Tranströmer's poetry.[19][20]

[edit] Music

Question book-new.svg
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Tranströmer played the piano throughout his life. In 1990, he suffered a stroke that paralysed the right side of his body and affected his speech, but taught himself to play with only with his left hand.[21] He has often said that the playing was a way for him to continue living after the stroke.

Many composers and musicians have worked with his poems; most recently, the New European Ensemble's commissioned the young Swedish composer Benjamin Staern for a song cycle based on poems from The Grief Gondola.[22] The piece was premiered in 2010 in both the composer's and the poet's presence. Other composers who have worked with Tomas Tranströmer's poems include Jan Garbarek and Sven-David Sandström. In 2011 he was elected honorary member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music for his contribution to music.

[edit] Selected awards and honours

[edit] Swedish collections

  • 17 dikter (17 Poems) 1954; Bonniers, 1965
  • Hemligheter på vägen (Secrets on the Way), Bonnier, 1958
  • Den halvfärdiga himlen (The Half-Finished Heaven), Bonnier, 1962
  • Klanger och spår (Windows and Stones), Bonnier, 1966
  • Mörkerseende (Night Vision), Författarförlaget, 1970
  • Stigar (Paths), Författarförlaget, 1973, ISBN 9789170541100
  • Östersjöar (Baltics), Bonnier, 1974
  • Sanningsbarriären (The Truth Barrier), Bonnier, 1978, ISBN 9789100436841
  • Det vilda torget (The Wild Square) Bonnier, 1983, ISBN 9789100460488
  • För levande och döda (For the Living and the Dead), Bonnier, 1989
  • Sorgegondolen (The Sorrow Gondola), Bonnier, 1996, ISBN 9789100562328
  • Den stora gåtan (The Big Riddle), Bonnier, 2004, ISBN 9789100103101
  • Galleriet: Reflected in Vecka nr.II (2007) – an artist book by Modhir Ahmed

[edit] Selected books in English translation

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Bosman, Julie (6 October 2011). "Swedish Poet Wins Nobel Prize for Literature". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/arts/swedish-poet-wins-nobel-prize-for-literature.html?_r=1&hp. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  2. ^ Salisbury, Stephan (1987). = "Straight Into the Invisible: A Swedish Poet's Explorations". http://articles.philly.com/1987-03-25/news/26223103_1_psychologist-explorations-poets/3 =. Retrieved 20 October 2011. 
  3. ^ Coyle, Bill (2009). = "Anchor in the Shadows: Review of The Great Enigma: New Collected Poems". http://www.cprw.com/Coyle/transtromer.htm =. Retrieved 20 October 2011. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Nobel Prize in Literature 2011 – Press Release". Nobelprize.org. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2011/press.html. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  5. ^ a b c Lea, Richard; Flood, Alison (6 October 2011). "Nobel prize for literature goes to Tomas Tranströmer". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/oct/06/nobel-prize-literature-tomas-transtromer?newsfeed=true. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  6. ^ "Adonis: Transtromer is deeply rooted in the land of poetry". Al-Ahram. 6 October 2011. http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContentP/18/23495/Books/Adonis-Transtromer-is-deeply-rooted-in-the-land-of.aspx. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  7. ^ "Nobel laureate has an India connection". The Times of India. 7 October 2011. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Nobel-laureate-has-an-India-connection/articleshow/10260776.cms. Retrieved 7 October 2011. 
  8. ^ Batchelor, Paul (17 June 2011). "New Collected Poems by Tomas Tranströmer – review". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jun/17/new-collected-poems-tomas-transtromer-review. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  9. ^ a b "Swedish poet Transtroemer wins Nobel Literature Prize". BBC News. 6 October 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15200547. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  10. ^ "1990 Neustadt International Prize for Literature Laureate Tomas Tranströmer". World Literature Today. http://www.ou.edu/worldlit/neustadt/1990-tomas-transtromer.html. 
  11. ^ Dugdale, John (6 October 2011). "Nobel prize for literature: Tomas Tranströmer joins a strange gang". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/oct/06/nobel-prize-literature-tomas-transtromer?newsfeed=true. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  12. ^ "Sweden’s most famous living poet wins Nobel prize". Euronews. 6 October 2011. http://www.euronews.net/2011/10/06/sweden-s-most-famous-living-poet-wins-nobel-prize/. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  13. ^ a b c "Sweden's Transtromer wins Nobel literature prize". Reuters. 6 October 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/06/us-nobel-literature-idUSTRE7920Y320111006?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  14. ^ Flood, Alison (7 October 2011). "Tomas Tranströmer's Nobel prize for literature provokes a mixed response". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/oct/07/tomas-transtromer-nobel-prize-literature-mixed-response?newsfeed=true. Retrieved 7 October 2011. 
  15. ^ Nobel Video
  16. ^ "Transtromer Wins Nobel Literature Prize". TIME. 6 October 2011. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2096341,00.html. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  17. ^ "Swedish poet Transtromer wins Nobel in literature". Dawn. 6 October 2011. http://www.dawn.com/2011/10/06/swedish-poet-transtromer-wins-nobel-in-literature.html. Retrieved 6 October 2011. 
  18. ^ "Tomas Tranströmer's Nobel prize for literature provokes a mixed response". The Guardian. 7 October 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/oct/07/tomas-transtromer-nobel-prize-literature-mixed-response. Retrieved 27 December 2011. 
  19. ^ Minzesheimer, Bob (7 October 2011). "Ecco to reissue two volumes of Nobel winner Tranströmer's poetry". USA Today. http://books.usatoday.com/bookbuzz/post/2011-10-07/ecco-to-reissue-two-volumes-of-nobel-winner-transtr%C3%B6mers-poetry/551324/1. Retrieved 7 October 2011. 
  20. ^ Witt, Emily (10 October 2011). "After Nobel Prize, the Race to Publish More Tomas Tranströmer". The New York Observer. http://www.observer.com/2011/10/after-nobel-prize-the-race-to-publish-more-tomas-transtromer/. Retrieved 10 October 2011. 
  21. ^ http://tomastranstromer.net/music/audio/
  22. ^ http://tomastranstromer.net/music/music-after-transtromer/composers/
  23. ^ "The Cabinet awards the title of professor to poet Tomas Tranströmer 7 april 2011(in Swedish)" (in Swedish). Regeringen.se. 7 April 2011. http://regeringen.se/sb/d/14087/a/165866. Retrieved 9 October 2011. 
  24. ^ "Minister for Culture congratulates Tomas Tranströmer on Nobel Prize in Literature". Sweden.gov.se. 7 October 2011. http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/14096/a/177480. Retrieved 9 October 2011. 
  25. ^ "20 Poems by Tomas Transtromer « The Owls". Owlsmag.wordpress.com. 14 July 2011. http://owlsmag.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/olives-transtromer/. Retrieved 9 October 2011. 

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