Harry Martinson

Harry Martinson (1904–1978) was a Swedish writer, best known as a poet. At the age of 16, he went to sea before turning to literature. His first collection of poetry was published in 1929; he later wrote poetry, novels, travel writing and works inspired by nature. Among his most important works is the verse epic “Aniara” (1956), a visionary portrayal of humanity and its endangered planet. Martinson was elected to the Swedish Academy in 1949. In 1974, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature jointly with Eyvind Johnson.