View source for Astrid Lindgren

{{Short description|Swedish children's writer (1907–2002)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{infobox writer
| name          = Astrid Lindgren
| image         = Astrid Lindgren (cropped).jpg
| caption       = Lindgren {{circa|1960}}
| birth_name    = Astrid Anna Emilia Ericsson
| birth_date    = {{birth date|df=y|1907|11|14}}
| birth_place   = [[Vimmerby]], Sweden
| death_date    = {{death date and age|df=y|2002|01|28|1907|11|14}}
| death_place   = Stockholm, Sweden
| resting_place = Vimmerby, Sweden
| occupation    = Book writer
| period        = 1944–2002
| genre         = {{cslist|[[Children's literature|Children's fiction]]|picture books|screenplays}}
| subject       =
| notableworks  = <!-- {{plainlist|
* 
}} see Talk#Most popular books -->
| awards = {{ubli|{{awd |[[Hans Christian Andersen Award]] for Writing |1958}}|{{awd |[[Right Livelihood Award]] |1994}}}}
| signature = Astrid Lindgren signature.svg
}}

'''Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren''' ({{IPA|sv|ˈǎsːtrɪd ˈlɪ̂nːˌɡreːn|lang|sv-Astrid Lindgren.ogg}}; {{née|'''Ericsson'''}}; 14 November 1907 – 28 January 2002) was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays. She is most notable for several children's book series, featuring [[Pippi Longstocking]], [[Emil i Lönneberga|Emil of Lönneberga]], [[Karlsson-on-the-Roof]], and [[The Six Bullerby Children]] (''Children of Noisy Village'' in the US), and for the [[children's fantasy]] novels ''[[Mio, My Son]]''; ''[[Ronia the Robber's Daughter]]''; and ''[[The Brothers Lionheart]]''. Lindgren worked on the Children's Literature Editorial Board at the [[Rabén & Sjögren]] publishing house in Stockholm and wrote more than 30 books for children. In 2017, she was calculated to be the world's 18th most translated author. Lindgren had by 2010 sold roughly 167 million books worldwide. In 1994, she was awarded the [[Right Livelihood Award]] for "her unique authorship dedicated to the rights of children and respect for their individuality". Her campaigning for animal welfare led to a new law, ''[[Lex Lindgren]]'', in time for her 80th birthday.

== Biography ==

[[File:Astrid Lindgren 1924.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Lindgren in 1924]]

Astrid Lindgren was born on 14 November 1907. She grew up in Näs, near [[Vimmerby]], [[Småland]], Sweden.<ref name="SKBL" /> She was the daughter of Samuel August Ericsson<!--(1875–1969)--> and Johanna (Hanna) Sofia Jonsson<!--(1879–1961)-->.<ref name="SKBL" /> Lindgren had an older brother and two younger sisters; the brother Gunnar became a member of the [[Swedish parliament]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Astrid's siblings |url=https://www.astridlindgren.com/about-astrid-lindgren/childhood/the-siblings |website=Astrid Lindgren Company |access-date=10 June 2023 |archive-date=10 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610063457/https://www.astridlindgren.com/about-astrid-lindgren/childhood/the-siblings |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Upon finishing school, Lindgren took a job with the local newspaper, ''Vimmerby Tidning'', in Vimmerby.<ref name="SKBL" /> She had a relationship with the chief editor and became pregnant, causing a local scandal.<ref name="SKBL" /> She moved to the capital city of Stockholm and learnt the skills of a secretary.<ref name="SKBL" /> While there in 1926 she gave birth to her only son, Lars, who was fostered for four years and then returned to her.<ref name="SKBL" /> He died in 1986.<ref name="Guardian Obituary" />

Starting in 1928, Lindgren worked as a secretary at [[Royal Automobile Club (Sweden)|Sweden's Royal Automobile Club]] ({{Lang|sv|Kungliga Automobil Klubben|italic=no}}).<ref name="SKBL" /> In 1931, she married her boss, Sture Lindgren (1898–1952). In 1934, Lindgren gave birth to her second child, Karin.<ref name="SKBL" />

Lindgren died in her home in [[central Stockholm]] on 28 January 2002 at the age of 94.<ref>{{cite news |last=Oliver |first=Myrna |date=29 January 2002 |title=Astrid Lindgren, 94; Creator of Pippi Longstocking Adventures |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-29-me-lindgren29-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621214858/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jan-29-me-lindgren29-story.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |access-date=30 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pearson |first=Richard |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/01/29/astrid-lindgren-dies-at-94/d62b627d-cfcd-488f-8faf-2acd121a86db/ |title=Astrid Lindgren Dies at 94|date=29 January 2002 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Her funeral took place in [[Storkyrkan]] in [[Gamla stan]]. Among those attending were King [[Carl XVI Gustaf]] with [[Queen Silvia of Sweden|Queen Silvia]] and others of the royal family, and Prime Minister [[Göran Persson]]. The ceremony was described in ''[[Dagens Nyheter]]'' as "the closest you can get to a [[state funeral]]."<ref>{{cite news |last=Hagerfors |first=Anna-Maria |date=8 March 2002 |title=Astrids sista farväl |newspaper=[[Dagens Nyheter]] }}</ref>

== Career ==

{{Quote box
 | quote  = <poem>As the children were sitting there eating pears, a girl came walking along the road from town. When she saw the children she stopped and asked, "Have you seen my papa go by?"
"M-m-m," said Pippi. "How did he look? Did he have blue eyes?"
"Yes," said the girl.
"Medium large, not too tall and not too short?"
"Yes," said the girl.
"Black hat and black shoes?"
"Yes, exactly," said the girl eagerly.
"No, that one we haven't seen," said Pippi decidedly.</poem>
 | source = Astrid Lindgren, ''[[Pippi Longstocking]]'' (''Pippi Långstrump'', 1945)
 | width  = 40%
 | align  = right
}}

Lindgren worked as a journalist and secretary before becoming a full-time author.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jensen |first=Jorn Rossing |title=The Swedish secretary and journalist who sold 144 million books worldwide |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/281173/|website=[[Cineuropa]] |date=24 November 2014 |language=en |access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> She served as a secretary for the [[1933 Swedish Summer Grand Prix]]. In the early 1940s, she worked as a secretary for criminalist [[Harry Söderman]]; the ''[[Norsk biografisk leksikon]]'' cites this experience as an inspiration for her fictional detective [[Bill Bergson]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Harry Söderman |encyclopedia=[[Norsk biografisk leksikon]] |first=Jørn-Kr. |last=Jørgensen |editor=Helle, Knut |editor-link=Knut Helle |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |location=Oslo |url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Harry_Söderman/utdypning |language=no |access-date=3 January 2013}}</ref>

In 1944, Lindgren won second prize in a competition held by the book publishing company [[Rabén & Sjögren]], with the novel {{Lang|sv|Britt-Marie lättar sitt hjärta}} (''The Confidences of Britt-Marie'').<ref>{{cite book |title=Britt-Mari lättar sitt hjärta |date=28 January 2016
|url=https://www.rabensjogren.se/bok/9789129714098/britt-marie-lattar-sitt-hjarta |publisher=[[Rabén & Sjögren]] |location=Stockholm |isbn=9789129714098 |access-date=23 June 2023 |language=Swedish}}</ref> In 1945 she won first prize in the same competition with the [[chapter book]] {{Lang|sv|Pippi Långstrump}} (''[[Pippi Longstocking]]''),<ref>{{cite web |title=Astrid Lindgren |url=https://www.rightlivelihoodaward.org/laureates/astrid-lindgren/ |website=The Right Livelihood Award |language=en |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416131646/https://www.rightlivelihoodaward.org/laureates/astrid-lindgren/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> which had been rejected by the book publishing company [[Bonniers]]. (Rabén & Sjögren published it with illustrations by [[Ingrid Vang Nyman]], the latter's debut in Sweden.) Since then it has become one of the most beloved children's books in the world<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/29/books/astrid-lindgren-author-of-children-s-books-dies-at-94.html |title=Astrid Lindgren, Author of Children's Books, Dies at 94 |last=Fox |first=Margalit |date=29 January 2002 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2 January 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Björk |first=Ulf Jonas |title=Pelle and Pippi at Home and Abroad: Swedishness as an Issue in Two Animated Films for Children |journal=Scandinavian Studies |volume=84 |issue=4 |year=2012 |pages=485–504 |doi=10.2307/41955691 |jstor=41955691 }}</ref> and has been translated into at least 100 languages.<ref name="Henriksson 2017">{{cite news |last1=Henriksson |first1=Simon |title=Milstolpe för Astrid Lindgrens böcker – översatts till 100 språk |trans-title=Milestone for Astrid Lindgren's Books – Translated to 100 Languages |url=https://www.dagensvimmerby.se/nyheter/e/12328/milstolpe-for-astrid-lindgrens-bocker-oversatts-till-100-sprak/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |work=Dagens Vimmerby |date=12 May 2017 |language=Swedish |quote=Under våren utkom Pippi Långstrump på oriya, ett språk som talas i en del av Indien. Det innebär att språkgränsen 100 passerades.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/astrid-lindgren-aktiebolag/pressreleases/astrid-lindgren-now-translated-into-100-languages-1963688|title=Astrid Lindgren now translated into 100 languages! |last=Forslund |first=Anna |website=MyNewsDesk |date=12 May 2017|access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref> While Lindgren almost immediately became a much-appreciated writer, the irreverent attitude towards adult authority that distinguishes many of her characters has occasionally drawn the ire of conservatives.<ref>{{cite web |last=Meri |first=Tiina |title=Pippi Longstocking – Rebel Role Model |url=https://sweden.se/culture-traditions/pippi-longstocking-rebel-role-model/ |website=Sweden.se |date=4 June 2013 |access-date=16 January 2019 |archive-date=16 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116200736/https://sweden.se/culture-traditions/pippi-longstocking-rebel-role-model/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Astrid Lindgren: The Woman Behind Pippi Longstocking review |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/astrid-lindgren-the-woman-behind-pippi-longstocking-review-1.3456925 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref>

She travelled to America and wrote what became the 1950 book ''[[Kati (book series)#Kati in America|Kati in America]]'' as a series of short pieces for the Swedish women's magazine ''[[Damernas Värld]]''.<ref name="SKBL">{{cite web |last1=Westin |first1=Boel |last2=Grosjean |first2=Alexia (trans.) |title=Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren |url=https://www.skbl.se/en/article/AstridLindgren |publisher=[[Svenskt kvinnobiografiskt lexikon]] |location=Stockholm |access-date=9 June 2023 |date=8 March 2018}}</ref> In 1956, the inaugural year of the [[Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis]], the German-language edition of {{Lang|sv|Mio, min Mio}} (''[[Mio, My Son]]'') won the Children's Book Award.<ref name=djlp>[http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/ "Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729054247/http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/ |date=29 July 2013 }}. Arbeitskreis für Jugendliteratur e.V. ('''DJLP''').<br/>
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080918044820/http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/english_key_facts-27.html "German Children's Literature Award"]. English Key Facts. [[Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis]]. Retrieved 2013-08-05.</ref><ref name="djlp–1956">[http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/archiv_datenbanksuche–26.html?suche=54104 Preisjahr "1956"]{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Database search report. DJLP. Retrieved 5 August 2013. See "Kategorie: Prämie". ''[[Happy Lion|The Happy Lion]]'' by Louise Fatio and Roger Duvoisin won the main Children's Book award (Kategorie: Kinderbuch).</ref>{{efn|Sixteen books written by Lindgren made the Children's Book and Picture Book longlist between 1956 and 1975, but only ''Mio, My Son'' won a prize in its category.<ref name=djlp-lindgren>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131101105133/http://www.djlp.jugendliteratur.org/archiv_datenbanksuche-26.html?suche=54105 Personen "Lindgren, Astrid"]. Database search report. DJLP. Retrieved 5 August 2013.</ref>}}

In 1958, Lindgren received the second [[Hans Christian Andersen Medal]] for ''[[Rasmus and the Vagabond|Rasmus på luffen]]'' (''Rasmus and the Vagabond''), a 1956 novel developed from her screenplay and filmed in 1955. The biennial [[International Board on Books for Young People]], now considered the highest lifetime recognition available to creators of children's books, soon came to be called the Little Nobel Prize.<ref name=andersen>[http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=273 "Hans Christian Andersen Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818051534/http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=845 |date=18 August 2018 }}. [[International Board on Books for Young People]] ('''IBBY'''). Retrieved 5 August 2013.</ref><ref name=ibby-lindgren>[http://www.literature.at/viewer.alo?objid=14769&viewmode=fullscreen&rotate=&scale=3.33&page=19 "Astrid Lindgren"] (pp. 24–25, by Eva Glistrup).<br /> 
&nbsp; [http://www.literature.at/viewer.alo?objid=14769&viewmode=fullscreen&scale=3.33&rotate=&page=9 "Half a Century of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards"] (pp. 14–21). Eva Glistrup.<br/>
''The Hans Christian Andersen Awards, 1956–2002''. IBBY. [[Gyldendal]]. 2002. Hosted by [[Austrian Literature Online]]. Retrieved 31 July 2013.</ref> In her career, she wrote more than 30 books for children.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Andersen |first=Jens |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SbBIDwAAQBAJ&q=Astrid+Lindgren%2C+children%27s+editorial+board+Rab%C3%A9n+&pg=PA228 |title=Astrid Lindgren: The Woman Behind Pippi Longstocking |date=27 February 2018 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |location=Yale |isbn=978-0-300-23513-5 }}</ref> In 2017, she was calculated to be the world's 18th most translated author.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://databases.unesco.org/xtrans/stat/xTransStat.a?VL1=A&top=50&lg=0 |title=UNESCO's statistics on whole Index Translationum database |website=[[UNESCO]] |access-date=22 February 2014 |archive-date=28 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228162015/http://www.unesco.org/xtrans/bsstatlist.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> By 2010, she had sold roughly 167 million books worldwide.<ref name="FAQ 2010">[http://www.astridlindgren.se/faq#faq-522 FAQ at Astrid Lindgren official site] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811001155/http://www.astridlindgren.se/faq#faq-522 |date=11 August 2070 }} {{in lang|sv}}.</ref>

== Politics ==

[[File:AstridLindgrenRightLivelihoodAward.jpg|thumb|Lindgren receiving the [[Right Livelihood Award]] in the Swedish parliament, 1994]]

In 1976, a scandal arose in Sweden when it was publicised that Lindgren's [[marginal tax rate]] had risen to 102 per cent. This was to be known as the "[[Pomperipossa in Monismania|Pomperipossa effect]]", from a story she published in ''[[Expressen]]'' on 3 March 1976,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astrid-lindgren.com/astridlindgren/Ldates/1974-1976.htm |title=Astrid Lindgren timeline, 1974–76 |publisher=Astrid-lindgren.com |access-date=22 February 2014 |archive-date=19 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119141022/http://www.astrid-lindgren.com/astridlindgren/Ldates/1974-1976.htm |url-status=usurped}}</ref> titled ''[[Pomperipossa in Monismania]]'', attacking the government and its taxation policies.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |title=Scandinavian Crime Fiction |last=Stougaard-Nielsen |first=Jakob |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |location=London |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4725-2275-7 |page=77}}</ref> It was a satirical allegory in response to the marginal tax rate Lindgren had incurred in 1976,<ref name=":1">{{cite book |title=The Swedish God |last=Biro |first=Jan |publisher=Homulus Foundation |location=Los Angeles |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-9842103-0-5 |page=55}}</ref> which required self-employed individuals to pay both regular [[income tax]] and employers' deductions.<ref name=":1"/> In a stormy tax debate, she attracted criticism from Social Democrats and others. She responded by raising the issue of the lack of women involved in the Social Democrats' campaign.<ref>{{cite book |title=Astrid Lindgren: The Woman Behind Pippi Longstocking |last=Andersen |first=Jens |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |year=2018 |isbn=978-0-300-22610-2 |location=New Haven }}</ref> In [[1976 Swedish general election|that year's general election]], the [[Social Democrats (Sweden)|Social Democratic]] government was voted out for the first time in 44 years, and the Lindgren tax debate was one of several controversies that may have contributed to that result. Another controversy involved [[Ingmar Bergman]]'s farewell letter to Sweden after charges had been made against him of tax evasion.<ref name=":0" /> Lindgren nevertheless remained a Social Democrat for the rest of her life.<ref>{{cite web |last=Barkman |first=Clas |url=http://www.dn.se/dnbok/dnbok-hem/brev-fran-astrid-lindgren-visar-hennes-stod-for-s |title=Brev från Astrid Lindgren visar hennes stöd för S |work=Dagens Nyheter |date=16 May 2010 |access-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018092713/http://www.dn.se/dnbok/dnbok-hem/brev-fran-astrid-lindgren-visar-hennes-stod-for-s |archive-date=18 October 2012}}</ref>

In 1978, when she received the ''[[Peace Prize of the German Book Trade]]'', Lindgren spoke against corporal punishment of children in a speech entitled ''[[Never Violence!]]'' After that, she teamed up with scientists, journalists and politicians to promote non-violent upbringing. In 1979, a law was introduced in Sweden prohibiting violence against children in response to her demands.<ref name=SUED>{{cite news |last=Pfeiffer |first=Christian |title=Astrid Lindgrens große Provokation |language=de |trans-title=Astrid Lindgren's Great Provocation |newspaper=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/leben/gewaltfreie-erziehung-astrid-lindgrens-grosse-provokation-1.4179081 |date=22 October 2018}}</ref>

From 1985 to 1989, Lindgren, with veterinarian Kristina Forslund, wrote articles concerning animal protection and mass production in the Swedish newspapers ''[[Expressen]]'' and ''[[Dagens Nyheter]]''. They wanted to launch an awareness campaign to promote better animal treatment in [[factory farming]]. Eventually, their activities led to a new law, dubbed the ''[[Lex Lindgren]]'', which was presented to Lindgren on her 80th birthday. At that time it was the strictest law concerning animal welfare in the world.<ref>{{cite web |last=Eberhorn |first=Johannes |url=https://www.planet-wissen.de/kultur/literatur/astrid_lindgren/pwiewissensfrage336.html |title=Das Tierschutzgesetz "Lex Lindgren" |language=German |trans-title=Animal Protection Law "Lex Lindgren" |website=Planet Wissen |date=30 July 2021}}</ref> However, Lindgren and Forslund were unsatisfied with it. Not enough had been done and only minor changes occurred. The articles Forslund and Lindgren wrote were later published in the book ''[[Min ko vill ha roligt]]'' (My cow wants to have fun).<ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Andreas |title=Was das Schwein Augusta gegen die Herren der Gewinnerzielung sagt |language=de |trans-title=What the pig Augusta says against the lords of profit making |newspaper=[[Braunschweiger Zeitung]] |url=https://www.braunschweiger-zeitung.de/kultur/article214763869/Was-das-Schwein-Augusta-gegen-die-Herren-der-Gewinnerzielung-sagt.html|date=4 July 2018}}</ref>

Lindgren was well known both for her support for [[children's rights|children's]] and [[animal rights]] and for her opposition to [[corporal punishment]] and the EU.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sweden.se/culture-traditions/astrid-lindgren-spoke-people-listened/ |title=Astrid Lindgren spoke, people listened |date=4 June 2013 |website=sweden.se |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172952/https://sweden.se/culture-traditions/astrid-lindgren-spoke-people-listened/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1994, she received the [[Right Livelihood Award]], "For her commitment to justice, non-violence and understanding of minorities as well as her love and caring for nature."<ref>{{cite web |title=Astrid Lindgren |url=https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/astrid-lindgren/ |website=Right Livelihood |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-date=17 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617200232/https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/astrid-lindgren/ |url-status=live}}</ref> She was a member of the [[freedom of speech]]-promoting, anti-imperialist organization [[Folket i Bild/Kulturfront]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Hummelgren |first=Maria Björk |url=https://corren.se/asikter/ledare/vad-skulle-astrid-ha-gjort-7651356.aspx |title=Vad skulle Astrid ha gjort? |website=Corren.se |date=7 January 2015 |accessdate=25 May 2022}}</ref>

== Honours and memorials ==

[[File:Astrid Lindgren 2011.jpg|thumb| Lindgren represented in the Villa Villekulla exhibit at Kneippbyn in [[Visby]], 2011 ]]

In 1967, the publisher [[Rabén & Sjögren]] established an annual [[literary prize]], the [[Astrid Lindgren Prize]], to mark her 60th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Congratulations Katarina von Bredow! |url=https://astridlindgrenmemorialaward.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/congratulations-katarina-von-bredow/ |date=14 November 2013 |website=Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award |language=en |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726111518/https://astridlindgrenmemorialaward.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/congratulations-katarina-von-bredow/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The prize—40,000 [[Swedish kronor]]—is awarded to a Swedish-language children's writer every year on Lindgren's birthday in November.<ref>{{cite web |title=ALMA – ALMA |url=http://www.alma.se/en/ |last=Lindgren |first=Astrid |date=14 April 2009 |website=www.alma.se |language=en |access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> In 1995, she was awarded the [[Illis quorum]] gold medal by the Swedish government.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 2006 |title=Regeringens belöningsmedaljer och regeringens utmärkelse: Professors namn |url=https://www.regeringen.se/contentassets/61bab671f59a46af81cb11ee99e0d0eb/regeringens-beloningsmedaljer-och-regeringens-utmarkelse-professors-namn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102152834/https://www.regeringen.se/contentassets/61bab671f59a46af81cb11ee99e0d0eb/regeringens-beloningsmedaljer-och-regeringens-utmarkelse-professors-namn |archive-date=2 November 2021 |access-date=18 May 2022 |website=[[Government Offices of Sweden]] |language=sv}}</ref> On her 90th birthday, she was pronounced [[International Swede of the Year]] 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=Old Age and Death |url=https://www.astridlindgren.com/about-astrid-lindgren/old-age-and-death |website=Astrid Lindgren Company |access-date=9 June 2023 |archive-date=9 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609180444/https://www.astridlindgren.com/about-astrid-lindgren/old-age-and-death |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In its entry on Scandinavian fantasy, ''[[The Encyclopedia of Fantasy]]'' named Lindgren the foremost Swedish contributor to modern children's fantasy.<ref>{{Citation |last=John-Henri |first=Holmberg |author-link=John-Henri Holmberg |contribution=Scandinavia |year=1997 |title=The Encyclopedia of Fantasy |editor-last=Clute |editor-first=John |editor2-last=Grant |editor2-first=John  |page=841 |location=New York |publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]] }}</ref> Its entry on Lindgren stated that "Her niche in children's fantasy remains both secure and exalted. Her stories and images can never be forgotten."<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Holmberg |first=John-Henri |author-link=John-Henri Holmberg |contribution=Lindgren, Astrid (Anna Emilia) |year=1997 |title=The Encyclopedia of Fantasy |editor1-last=Clute |editor1-first=John |editor2-last=Grant |editor2-first=John |page=582 |location=New York |publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]] |title-link=The Encyclopedia of Fantasy}}</ref>

Following Lindgren's death, the [[government of Sweden]] instituted the [[Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award]] in her memory. The award is the world's largest monetary award for children's and youth literature, in the amount of five million Swedish kronor.<ref name=SACouncil>[http://www.kulturradet.se/en/In-English/International-activities/ "International Activities"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024034/http://www.kulturradet.se/en/In-English/International-activities/ |date=7 November 2017 }}. Swedish Arts Council. Retrieved 12 June 2013.</ref><ref name=flood2012>Flood, Alison (20 March 2012). [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/mar/20/guus-kuijer-astrid-lindgren-award "Dutch author Guus Kuijer wins Astrid Lindgren memorial award"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812191558/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/mar/20/guus-kuijer-astrid-lindgren-award |date=12 August 2022 }}. ''[[The Guardian]]''. Quote: "...&nbsp;the world's richest children's books prize, the Astrid Lindgren memorial award."</ref> The collection of Lindgren's original manuscripts in the [[National Library of Sweden]] in Stockholm was added to [[UNESCO]]'s [[Memory of the World International Register]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=Astrid Lindgren Archives |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/astrid-lindgren-archives |publisher=UNESCO Memory of the World Programme|access-date=4 November 2025}}</ref> On 6 April 2011, Sweden's central bank [[Sveriges Riksbank]] announced that Lindgren's portrait would feature on the 20 [[Swedish krona|kronor]] banknote, beginning in 2014–2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riksbank.com/templates/Page.aspx?id=46685 |title=Sveriges Riksbank |website=[[Sveriges Riksbank]] |date=30 September 2011 |access-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927172146/http://www.riksbank.com/templates/Page.aspx?id=46685 |archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> The banknote had before that featured the Swedish author [[Selma Lagerlöf]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Sedlar--mynt/Sedlar/Tidplan/ |title=Tidplan nya sedlar och mynt |language=sv |trans-title=Timescale for new notes and coins |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011055902/http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Sedlar--mynt/Sedlar/Tidplan/ |archive-date=11 October 2016 |website=Riksbank |access-date=1 August 2015}}</ref> In 2018, [[Pernille Fischer Christensen]] directed the film ''[[Becoming Astrid]]'' (Swedish: ''Unga Astrid''), a [[Biographical film|biographical drama]] about Lindgren's early life.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/a/WLkvRd/unga-astrid--en-gripande-film-om-astrid-lindgren |title="Unga Astrid" – en gripande film om Astrid Lindgren |language=Swedish |trans-title='Becoming Astrid' – a gripping film about Astrid Lindgren |access-date=11 January 2019 |first= Jens |last=Peterson |work=[[Aftonbladet]] |date=21 February 2018}}</ref>

=== Nobel Prize in Literature ===

In [[1972 Nobel Prize in Literature|1972]], Lindgren was nominated for the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] by German literary critic Klaus Doderer and Austrian librarian Josef Stummvoll.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nomination/archive/show_people.php?id=16442|title=Nomination Archive – Astrid Lindgren|website=NobelPrize.org|date=March 2024 |access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://all-things-nordic.com/2023/01/04/astrid-lindgren-and-the-nobel-prize-it-all-begun-in-1972/|title=Astrid Lindgren and the Nobel Prize: it all begun in 1972|date=4 January 2023|website=All Things Nordic|access-date=10 January 2024}}</ref>

=== Asteroid Lindgren ===

Asteroid [[3204 Lindgren]], discovered in 1978 by Soviet astronomer [[Nikolai Chernykh]], was named after her.<ref>{{cite book |last=Schmadel |first=Lutz D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?q=3204+Lindgren+1978+RH |title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names |year=2013 |page=418 |publisher=Springer |location=Berlin, Heidelberg |isbn=978-3-6620-6615-7 }}</ref> The name of the Swedish [[miniaturized satellite|microsatellite]] [[Astrid (satellites)|Astrid 1]], launched on 24 January 1995, was originally selected only as a common [[Swedish name days|Swedish female name]], but within a short time it was decided to name the payload instruments after characters in Lindgren's books: PIPPI (Prelude in Planetary Particle Imaging), EMIL (Electron Measurements – In-situ and Lightweight), and MIO (Miniature Imaging Optics).<ref>{{cite web |title=Satelliter finansierade av Rymdstyrelsen |url=http://www.rymdstyrelsen.se/sv/Sverige-i-rymden/Svenska-satelliter/ |language=Swedish |website=[[Swedish National Space Board]] |accessdate=7 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714232614/http://www.rymdstyrelsen.se/sv/Sverige-i-rymden/Svenska-satelliter/ |archivedate=14 July 2014 }}</ref>

=== Astrid's Wellspring ===

In memory of Lindgren, a memorial sculpture was created next to her childhood home, named {{Lang|sv|Källa Astrid}} ("Astrid's Wellspring" in English). It is situated at the spot where Lindgren first heard [[fairy tale]]s. The sculpture consists of an artistic representation of a young person's head (1.37 m high), flattened on top, in the corner of a square pond, and, just above the water, a ring of rosehip thorns.<ref>[http://www.kindaposten.se/article/articleview/23590/1/13/ "Källa Astrid" på Astrids källa "Astrid's Wellspring [source of inspiration&#93; in Astrid's Wellspring"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828140019/http://www.kindaposten.se/article/articleview/23590/1/13/ |date=28 August 2010}}. [http://www.kindaposten.se/ettan Kinda-Posten]{{in lang|sv}}. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112161914/http://www.kindaposten.se/ettan |date=12 November 2009 }}</ref>

Lindgren's childhood home is near the statue and open to the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astridlindgrensnas.se |title=Vălkommen Till Astrid Lindgrens Năs |language=Swedish |trans-title=Welcome to Astrid Lindgren's Năs [her childhood home] |website=Astridlindgrensnas.se |access-date=22 February 2014}}</ref> Just {{convert|100|m|ft}} from Astrid's Wellspring is a museum in her memory. The author is buried in Vimmerby,<ref>{{cite web |title=In the footsteps of Astrid Lindgren |url=https://www.vimmerby.com/en/artikel/in-the-footsteps-of-astrid-lindgren/in-the-footsteps-of-astrid-lindgren/ |website=City of Vimmerby |date=27 September 2021 |access-date=8 June 2023 |archive-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608200529/https://www.vimmerby.com/en/artikel/in-the-footsteps-of-astrid-lindgren/in-the-footsteps-of-astrid-lindgren/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> where the [[Astrid Lindgren's World]] theme park is located.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vimmerby.com/en/astrid-lindgrens-world/ |title=Astrid Lindgrens World |website=vimmerby.com |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221210547/https://www.vimmerby.com/en/astrid-lindgrens-world/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The children's museum [[Junibacken]], in Stockholm, was opened in June 1996 with the main theme of the permanent exhibition being devoted to Lindgren; at the heart of the museum is a theme train ride through the world of Lindgren's novels.<ref>{{cite web |title=Junibacken |url=https://museu.ms/museum/details/736/junibacken |website=Museums of the World |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" mode="nolines" widths="220px" heights="220px">
File:Sagornas död.jpg|''Källa Astrid'' (Astrid's Wellspring) by {{ill|Berit Lindfeldt|sv}}
File:Astridmuseum.jpg|Lindgren Museum
File:Astridgrave.jpg|Lindgren gravesite
File:Staty av Astrid Lindgren.jpg|Lindgren at her typewriter. Statue created by [[Marie-Louise Ekman]], in the centre of Vimmerby
</gallery>

== Works ==

[[File:Pippi Langkous in Nederland 1 (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|The Lindgren character [[Pippi Longstocking]] played by [[Inger Nilsson]] in 1972 ]]

=== Bibliography ===

{{main|Astrid Lindgren bibliography|Astrid Lindgren's plays}}

Lindgren is best known for her children's book series featuring [[Pippi Longstocking]], [[Emil i Lönneberga|Emil of Lönneberga]], [[Karlsson-on-the-Roof]], and [[the Six Bullerby Children]], and for the [[children's fantasy]] novels ''[[Mio, My Son]]'', ''[[Ronia the Robber's Daughter]]'', and ''[[The Brothers Lionheart]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sundmark |first=Björn |title=Astrid Lindgren and Being Swedish |url=https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1408432/FULLTEXT01.pdf |publisher=[[Malmö University]] |location=Malmö |access-date=11 June 2023}}</ref>
Although best known for her children's and youth books, she has also worked in many other genres, with for example [[song lyrics]], [[debate]] [[Article (publishing)|article]]s, [[Literary realism|realistic]] autobiographical works like ''[[Samuel August from Sevedstorp and Hanna i Hult]]'' and [[contemporary history]] like ''[[War Diaries, 1939–1945]]''.

=== Translations ===

By 2012, Lindgren's books had been translated into 95 different languages or variants. The first chapter of ''Ronja the Robber's Daughter'' has in addition been translated into [[Latin language|Latin]]. By 1997, some 3,000 editions of her books had been issued internationally.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Steffensen |first=Anette Øster|title=Two Versions of the Same Narrative– Astrid Lindgren's Mio, min Mio in Swedish and Danish |journal=Meta |volume=48 |issue=1–2 |date=24 September 2003 |pages=104–114 |doi=10.7202/006960ar |doi-access=free }}</ref> By the time of her death, her books had sold a total of 80 million copies.<ref name="Guardian Obituary">{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Nicolette |title=Obituary: Astrid Lindgren |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/jan/29/guardianobituaries.books |access-date=9 June 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=29 January 2002}}</ref> By 2010 that had risen to around 167 million books worldwide.<ref name="FAQ 2010"/> <!--Many of her books have been translated into English by Joan Tate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Joan Tate |url=https://granta.com/contributor/joan-tate/ |website=Granta |access-date=9 June 2023}}</ref>-->

=== Filmography ===
{{main|List of adaptations of works by Astrid Lindgren}}

The adaptation of Lindgren's books for film started with [[Rolf Husberg]]'s 1947 ''[[Bill Bergson, Master Detective (film)|Bill Bergson, Master Detective]]''.<ref name=ALG>{{cite web |url=https://www.zauberspiegel-online.de/index.php/was-zum-schauen-junior-416/9090-astrid-lindgren-in-film-und-fernsehen-teil-2 |title=Die Astrid Lindgren-Verfilmungen Teil 2 |access-date=23 June 2023 |archive-date=23 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623201245/https://www.zauberspiegel-online.de/index.php/was-zum-schauen-junior-416/9090-astrid-lindgren-in-film-und-fernsehen-teil-2 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This was followed in 1949 by Per Gunvall's adaptation of ''Pippi Longstocking'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.minnenasjournal.nu/markliga-svenska-filmer-astrid-stoppade-fiaskofilmen-om-pippi-1949/|title=Märkliga svenska filmer: Astrid stoppade fiaskofilmen om Pippi, 1949}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  and then by many others.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sjöberg |first1=Daniel |title=6 classic Astrid Lindgren films every child in Sweden should see |url=https://allmogens.se/en/6-klassiska-astrid-lindgren-filmer/ |website=Allmogens |access-date=11 June 2023 |date=14 August 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Swedish language writers]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading== 
* Berf, Paul; Astrid Surmatz (2000). ''Astrid Lindgren. Zum Donnerdrummel! Ein Werk-Porträt''. Frankfurt: Zweitausendeins {{ISBN|3-8077-0160-5}}
* Edström, Vivi (1997). ''Astrid Lindgren. Im Land der Märchen und Abenteuer'' Hamburg: Oetinger {{ISBN|3-7891-3402-3}}
* Gottschalk, Maren (2006). ''Jenseits von Bullerbü. Die Lebensgeschichte der Astrid Lindgren''. Weinheim: Beltz & Gelberg {{ISBN|3-407-80970-0}}
* Knobloch, Jörg (2002). ''Praxis Lesen: Astrid Lindgren: A4-Arbeitsvorlagen Klasse 2–6''. Lichtenau: AOL-Verlag {{ISBN|3-89111-653-5}}
* Metcalf, Eva-Maria (1995). ''Astrid Lindgren''. New York: Twayne {{ISBN|978-0-8057-4525-2}}
* {{SKBL|name=Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren}}
* Schönfeldt, Sybil Gräfin (2000). ''Astrid Lindgren''. Reinbek: Rowohlt {{ISBN|3-499-50371-9}}
* Strömstedt, Margareta (1977). ''Astrid Lindgren: En levnadsteckning''. Stockholm: [[Rabén & Sjögren]] {{ISBN|978-9-1295-0279-4}}
* Strömstedt, Margareta (2001). ''Astrid Lindgren. Ein Lebensbild''. Hamburg: Oetinger {{ISBN|3-7891-4717-6}}
* Surmatz, Astrid (2005). ''Pippi Långstrump als Paradigma. Die deutsche Rezeption Astrid Lindgrens und ihr internationaler Kontext''. Tübingen, Basel: Francke {{ISBN|3-7720-3097-1}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage|Astrid Lindgren tourism}}
* [http://www.astridlindgren.se/ AstridLindgren.se] – official site produced by license holders
* {{IMDb name|id=0511807|name=Astrid Lindgren}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050923213553/http://www.astridlindgrensworld.com/ Astrid Lindgren's World] – official site of the theme park
* [http://www.astridlindgrensnas.se/ Astrid Lindgrens Näs] – official site produced by the Astrid Lindgren-museum and culture center Astrid Lindgrens Näs in Vimmerby
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031214165131/http://www.rightlivelihood.se/recip/lindgren.htm Astrid Lindgren] – Right Livelihood Award (1994)
* {{Books and Writers |id=alindgr |name=Astrid Lindgren}}
* [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1995-002B Astrid spacecraft description] at [[NASA]] Space Science Data Coordinated Archive

{{Astrid Lindgren}}
{{Media based on Astrid Lindgren works}}
{{Hans Christian Andersen Medal}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Associated subjects
|list1=
{{Pippi Longstocking}}
{{Bill Bergson}}
{{Emil i Lönneberga}}
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{{Selma Lagerlöf Prize}}
{{Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindgren, Astrid}}
[[Category:Astrid Lindgren| ]]
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Swedish screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Swedish novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Swedish women writers]]
[[Category:Animal welfare workers]]
[[Category:Children's rights activists]]
[[Category:Children's songwriters]]
[[Category:Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Nils Holgersson Plaque]]
[[Category:Litteris et Artibus recipients]]
[[Category:Memory of the World Register]]
[[Category:People from Vimmerby Municipality]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Illis quorum]]
[[Category:Selma Lagerlöf Prize winners]]
[[Category:Swedish women radio presenters]]
[[Category:Swedish radio presenters]]
[[Category:Swedish children's writers]]
[[Category:Swedish eurosceptics]]
[[Category:Swedish fantasy writers]]
[[Category:Swedish pacifists]]
[[Category:Swedish satirists]]
[[Category:Swedish women satirists]]
[[Category:Swedish Social Democratic Party]]
[[Category:Swedish women children's writers]]
[[Category:Swedish women screenwriters]]
[[Category:Swedish-language writers]]
[[Category:Swedish women science fiction and fantasy writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Kalmar County]]