To journey through literature is to discover new places. In this folder you will find some of the literary places in Västerbotten and Norrbotten counties, for example Sara Lidman’s home in Missenträsk and Eyvind Johnson’s cottage bakery in Björkelund, Boden. Enjoy your reading – enjoy your journey! Literary places
västerbotten Frida Åslund: Umeå / kvarteret Ripan, Backens kyrka ...... 4 Sara Lidman: Skellefteå / Missenträsk, Åliden ...... 6 Torgny Lindgren: Norsjö / Raggsjö ...... 8 Katarina Mazetti: Umeå / kvarteret Ripan, Nya konditoriet ...... 10 Bernhard Nordh: Vilhelmina / Marsliden, Fatmomakke ...... 12 Per Olov Enquist: Skellefteå / Hjoggböle, Burträsk ...... 14 Lars Widding: Umeå / kvarteret Ripan, Döbelns park ...... 16
norrbotten Eyvind Johnson: Boden / Björkelund ...... 18 Einar Wallquist: Arjeplog / Silvermuseet ...... 20 Åsa Larsson: Kiruna / Jukkasjärvi, Kurravaara ...... 22 Bengt Pohjanen: Överkalix / Sirillus gård (Tallvik) Pajala / Kassa ...... 24 Authors from Tornedalen / Pajala, Övertorneå, Haparanda ...... 26
List of publications ...... 28
All literary quotations translated into English especially for this publication.
in Västerbotten and Norrbotten © Lantmäteriet Gävle 2010. Medgivande I2010/1452 Umeå / kvarteret Ripan, Backens kyrka
Frida Åslund
“Now it so happened that Folke’s Frida’s elder half-brother Helmer father’s house was the next to last later adopted the name Osslund on the wide birch-lined street in and became “the artistic discoverer the eastern quarter of town, and of the whole of northern Sweden”. the house where Frida’s mother Folke’s eldest brother, Wilhelm and siblings lived was the last. Both Peterson-Berger, became one of houses had green courtyards and Sweden’s most beloved composers. red outbuildings with a crowd of The three autobiographical no- pleasant storehouses and nooks vels Folke and Frida (1925), Frida i and crannies to play in. Between Per-Nils-gården (1928) and Tiden går the two houses ran a red fence, but (1932) tell of Frida’s childhood and The Peterson-Berger home at the crossing Kungsgatan-Pilgatan. Below: Frida Åslund’s with a stile consisting of two steps, the nature of life in Umeå in the maternal grandfather, J.A. Linder, lies buried in Västra kyrkogården (the West Graveyard) so that the children might run over 1880s and 1890s. We witness the in Umeå. to each other without running on great church fire of Christmas 1887 to the street and in through the and the town fire of 1888. After the exists, but the home of Wilhelm gate.” town fire, Frida moved with her From Folke och Frida, new edition 2008. Peterson-Berger, a listed building, family to Grisbacka and she had a still stands on its original site. The house where Frida lived stood whole new world to explore, inclu- x on today’s Kungsgatan in the then ding the large mediaeval church at newly projected quarter called Öst Backen. Her maternal grandfather, på stan (East in town), and Folke Dean J. A. Linder, is buried here. THE AUTHOR lived on the other side of today’s He was perhaps Umeå’s foremost Frida Åslund was born in 1879. Her father, Daniel street Pilgatan on the block cal- Åslund, died when she was young, and she would cultural personality of the 19th grow up with her mother and maternal grandmot- led Ripan. The built-up parts had century. He was not only a priest her. Frida trained as a schoolteacher, one of few partly rural characteristics and the but also a prolific writer and archi- professions daughters in middle-class families town planning followed the garden tect. Baggböle Manor, the churches could enter. For her entire life, she then worked in Horndal in Dalarna. She wrote prolifically and by city vision with large, open, ver- in Holmsund and Hörnefors are the time of her death in 1937 she had published dant plots. examples of his work. He was also 20 novels and over 200 shorter works. In the Peterson-Berger home, a keen proponent of temperance – The original manuscripts have been donated to Umeå University and are archived in the university Katarina Mazetti would eventu- more than 21 drinks a day was un- library. The autobiographical trilogy of children’s ally work, and Lars Widding was suitable – unless there were special books Folke och Frida, Frida i Per-Nils-gården and brought up in the neighbouring circumstances. Tiden går have been published in a new two-part edition: Folke och Frida (2008) and Fridas nya house, precisely where Frida and Frida, who died in 1937, lies bu- värld (2009). Folke played. ried together with her parents in The two children belonged to sur- Västra kyrkogården (the West Gra- THE PLACE Do you want to learn more about Frida’s world? veyors’ families and had siblings veyard) near the former hospital. Explore it by downloading a walker’s guide on
västerbotten who were much older than them. Frida’s childhood home no longer www.atriumforlag.se. It is free of charge.
4 5 Skellefteå / Missenträsk
Sara Lidman
The five novels that make up the on his way to Långholmen Prison, Jernbane epic are based on the life declared bankrupt and condemned of Erik Lidman, Sara Lidman’s pa- and sentenced for embezzlement of ternal grandfather. Erik Lidman, emergency aid funds. in the novel Didrik Mårtensson, After serving his sentence, on the is a “snallare”, that is, one of the train home from Långholmen, he smallholders who carried out the meets Forest Supervisor Bredfelt exhausting transport of goods from who like Spadar-Abdon in his day Skellefteå up to Arvidsjaur on the is enthusiastic about his project “snallare” route. Didrik has a dre- – draining marshes to create new am – an iron road will be built here farmland. and will bring happiness and pros- “Within half a century, little Eck- perity to the interior of northern sträsk will have grown from eight Sweden. The Jernbane epic is the homesteads to thirty – perhaps a story of ordinary people’s greatness hundred: properties capable of fee- Sara Lidman’s home in Missenträsk. and great people’s pettiness. ding large families, each owning “And the line of horses started two or three horses. Foresters they moving and reached the top of the shall be! An army of foresters and people found prehistoric skis deep THE AUTHOR in the marshes. The oldest known Sara Lidman (1923–2004) was born in Missen- slope without rest. Once they were log-drivers! But lime is called for! träsk, Västerbotten. She ranks as one of the there the road curved and came into Thanks to the railway we can now ski found in this way is the Kalv- greatest and most innovative users of language the shade of the firs. At every south- bring in the lime. And timothy träsk Ski – 5,300 years old – which in Swedish literature. Her debut was in 1953 with is on display in Västerbotten Mu- the novel Tjärdalen which introduced the village of ward facing slope the same was re- grass seed. And clover.” Ecksträsk, where for the first time the reader gets From Järnkronan, 1985 seum. peated; longer and longer stretches x to know her characteristic prose, based on dialect were bare ground and needed to be Didrik settles in Ecksträsk and and biblical language. In 1975 she began her major work, called the Jernbane epic, comprising covered with snow. The sun does starts a career cultivating new land. five novels about the modernisation and colonisa- not warm ’but she certainly wears As for example in her first novels tion of northern Sweden, later complemented with down the surface’. Their eyes were Tjärdalen (1953) and Hjortronlandet the standalone sequels Lifsens rot (1996) and sore. The horses sweated and nibb- (1955) Sara Lidman here returns Oskuldens minut (1999). Sara Lidman received an honorary doctorate at Umeå University in 1978 led at snow from the sides.” to her home village, Missenträsk. THE PLACE and a professorship in 1999. She also won a large From Vredens barn, 1979 The village lies surrounded by vast Through a donation by Sara Lidman, Umeå Uni- number of literary prizes and honours. Once the king had finally inau- drained marshlands, up along the versity has at its disposal Sara’s home in Missen- The main goal of the Sara Lidman Society is to promote interest in Sara Lidman’s writings and gurated the last stretch of the main “snallare” road, which was eventu- träsk. The buildings can be rented as dwellings for researchers and writers with a need for a creative social commitment by arranging the publication northern line in Jörn on 2 August ally transformed into the east-west and secluded work environment, for recreation and dissemination of her texts. 1894, three minutes late, Didrik is Jörn-Arvidsjaur railway. and for small meetings/conferences (max 14 overthrown from his position as Marshland cultivation was a gi- persons). Bookings administered by the Buildings Division (Lokalförsörjningsenheten) the great man of the region, chair- gantic failure, but an incidental at Umeå University,
västerbotten man of the municipal council and is result was that that in many places phone +46 90-786 53 11.
6 7 Norsjö / Raggsjö
Torgny Lindgren
There are two very strong tradi- more precisely a conglomeration of tions in northern Västerbotten: smaller villages, and every village organ-building and storytelling. had its hash with its own characte- Organ-building naturally stems ristics and peculiarities, and even from the revivalist movements, home hash and hill hash and bell- but organs also had secular use. A clapper hash were basically Raggsjö particular characteristic of organs hashes, though a little different.” from the Norsjö area is what is An ongoing project – Literary tou- known as the Västerbotten voice, rism in Torgny Lindgren’s footsteps soft and with lingering melancholy. – is aimed to make literary Raggsjö Perhaps storytelling too has a more accessible to the public. x sort of Västerbotten voice, re- flective and with lingering me- mories and fantasies, and Minnen (Memories) is in fact the title of Torgny Lindgren’s latest book. Rebuilding Torgny Lindgren’s paternal grand- Also in Torgny Lindgren’s book mother’s summer cottage in Raggsjö. Lower: the The Way of a Serpent (Ormens väg på cableway between Mensträsk and Örträsk. hälleberget, 1982), the organ plays an THE PLACE important role, although here the Raggsjö Village Association and Norsjö Municipa- organ is a simpler one – a harmo- lity are setting up a visitor destination in the village nium. The music helps the mother, including Torgny Lindgren’s paternal grandmother’s summer cottage. Raggsjö village hall will be the centre Tea, to deal with everyday worries of the visitor centre, a building which may be the ori- and also to earn an income, to pay ginal mission building in the novel Norrlands akvavit the storekeeper’s bills if possible. (2007). In the village hall there will be exhibitions, a In the novel Hash (Pölsan, 2002), café and opportunities to experience special settings THE AUTHOR in both sound and image. Here visitors can also order schoolteacher Lars Högström and Torgny Lindgren was born in 1938 in Raggsjö, near guided viewings. the German immigrant Robert Ma- Norsjö in Västerbotten. He trained as a teacher in The visitor centre is planned to open in June 2011. For ser (Martin Bormann) set off on a Umeå. He worked as a sixth-form teacher of social more information, contact Anna Hansson through science subjects until the mid-1970s, mostly in Norsjö Municipality on +46 918-140 00 or: culinary odyssey in the Norsjö area Vimmerby. Torgny Lindgren now lives in Tjärstad [email protected]. to find the perfect plate of hash. In near Rimforsa in the county of Östergötland. Torg- As the project progresses, developments at the visitor Raggsjö they are served the most ny Lindgren’s writing is shaped by his childhood centre can be monitored on www.raggsjoliden.se. in Västerbotten, his interest in philosophy and his excellent hash by the young tuber- Christian beliefs. In his texts his social criticism is THE CABLEWAY cular Torgny Lindgren who explains often ironic. After his breakthrough with The Way The world’s longest cableway, 13,613 metres long, runs that there is certainly a Raggsjö of a Serpent his novels and short stories have sold between Örträsk and Mensträsk in Norsjö Municipa- in considerable numbers and been filmed. In 1991 lity. The cableway’s highest point is 20 metres and the hash, “although in fact it was more he was elected to the Swedish Academy and holds lowest 7 metres. Rides on the cableway are offered
västerbotten complicated than that. Raggsjö was Chair number 9. year-round. For information: www.linbanan.com.
8 9 Umeå / kvarteret Ripan, Nya konditoriet
Katarina Mazetti
“Radio Nordost is housed in an number of languages. When the 18th-century tradesman’s home in book was later filmed – the director the middle of town and it is far too was Kjell Sundvall from Luleå – it small for our activities. Next year was as big a success as the book. construction will start on a new ra- In the following book, a detec- dio building, but at the moment it tive novel, the setting is the radio looks like this: a large two-storey building – Tyst. Du är död! (2001). wooden building in grey-green, The story is a closed room mystery, with corners and window frames in further complicated by the fact that grass-green. Tiled curb roof, heavy the murder takes places during a brown door with small windows live broadcast. The victim is a col- above, and an ugly little porch stuck league – a thoroughly disliked but on the outside as an afterthought, popular presenter. The hero, the like an uncomfortable backpack. trainee Malla, is the one who finally Right up until a couple of years ago solves the mystery. there were ceramic stoves in the up- It is a cold winter and Malla is ea- Nya konditoriet. stairs rooms – but they were torn ting greasy pizzas and fighting the out when the latest computers were icy winds between her flat, the ra- However, another café meets installed in all the work stations.” dio building and some of the many with approval under Malla’s criti- From Tyst! Du är död!, 2001 cafés in Umeå; that is, those that cal gaze: “I sat and chilled in Nya For 15 years, Katarina Mazetti have not yet been transformed into Kaféet (The New Café). (New? It worked for local radio (Sveriges Ra- latte temples. “We sat in Sandberg’s should be a listed building, or at dio) in Umeå, among other things coffee house and meditatively che- least their Danish pastries should presenting the well-known pro- wed on their filled-to-bursting Na- be listed!).” Sandberg’s, like Café gramme Radio Ellen. For some of poleon cakes. (Sandberg’s is the Linnéa, Nykterhetskaféet, Focus this time the radio unit was housed only place in town where you can and all the others that were the in the Peterson-Berger home on still experience your childhood’s natural meeting places for Umeå’s THE AUTHOR the crossing of Kungsgatan and Pil- coffee house visits, complete with young people, has sadly gone. Nya Katarina Mazetti was born in Stockholm in 1944 gatan – the home where Folke and tired aspidistras, weekly magazines Konditoriet however (the book’s and grew up in Karlskrona. She studied in Lund where she took a BA in the history of literature. In Frida, the main characters in a se- and PVC furniture. All the other Nya Kaféet?) is still there as a last 1989 she took a post at Sveriges Radio as an edi- ries of books by Frida Åslund, had cafés in town have been re-vamped remnant of the café culture that tor and reporter, working among other things with played a hundred years before. and given an English name and ser- once existed in Umeå. Radio Ellen and Freja. She lived in Sörfors near Umeå until 2002, when she returned to Lund. In 1998, Katarina Mazetti had ve eighteen types of espresso and Katarina Mazetti has written a Visit Katarina Mazetti’s website: a breakthrough among readers American brownies as big as toilet further two books that take their www.katarinamazetti.com. and critics with the novel Benny lids. And you are supposed to sit on inspiration from Umeå: the earlier- THE PLACE & Shrimp (Grabben i graven bredvid, a high stool until you get cramp in mentioned Benny & Shrimp and its Walks in the Umeå writers’ footsteps are organi- västerbotten which was translated into a large your thighs.)” sequel Familjegraven (2005). x sed through mail to: [email protected].
10 11 Vilhelmina / Marsliden, Fatmomakke
Bernhard Nordh
Bernhard Nordh was a cotter’s son chopped stakes and dragged brush. from northern Uppland who fell in He drove the stakes into the ground love with the mountain world, in on one side of the large fir tree, tied particular Kultsjödalen, to which one pole to the tree, cut osier and he often returned. The background bound more stakes for a lean-to material to the stories I Marsfjällets roof. Between the stakes he braided skugga (1937), Fjällfolk (1938) and fir twigs, to make both walls and Undan frostpiskan (1938) was taken a roof, and Britta bound together from real life through extensive a large mat of birch twigs to make interviews and conversations with the floor.” View from Marsliden. Below: Lars Pålsson’s cottage. villagers. From I Marsfjällets skugga, 1937 In his two books about the settler At the ancient Sámi church in Marsliden, Lars Pålsson, Bern- site Fatmomakke, Sámi and sett- THE AUTHOR THE PLACE hard Nordh paints an accurate pic- lers met and of course it was here Bernhard Nordh was born in 1900 in Björklinge, The former Kyrkans fjällgård, a mountain farms- northern Uppland, and grew up a cotter’s son. tead in Marsliden, has been designated a writers’ ture of two periods in the second among other places that the often At the age of 16 he tried his hand at railroad con- and scholarship centre by Norrländska litteratur- half of the 19th century: the foun- deep-rooted conflicts came to the struction and soon advanced to foreman. Around sällskapet and Författarcentrum Norr. Marsliden is ding of the settlement of Marsliden surface. this time he came into contact with the syndicalist mostly associated with Bernhard Nordh’s novels movement and also began to take an interest in about Lars Pålsson’s settler family. Other authors and the introduction of the culti- Still today, people meet at Fat- northern Sweden. From 1926 on, he made his too have found inspiration for their novels in this vation limit in 1867, all depicted momakke, for more than 300 years living from writing and belonged to the Folket i place. For those interested in Bernhard Nordh and against the background of relations the site of a chapel at the mouth of Bild circle, and was a close friend of Jan Fridegård. his life and works, there is more information on By the time of his death in 1972, he had published the Bernhard Nordh Society website: with the indigenous Sámi popula- Ransarån stream, and even though about thirty novels that appeared in large editions www.bernhardnordh.se. tion. they may not surface in the same and were translated, above all into German. From the state’s point of view it way as in Bernhard Nordh’s books, was desirable to have new farms many of the unresolved centuries- established in the mountain areas. old conflicts between the Sámi and The fact that viable farming was the settlers from Sweden proper practically impossible in the high- still remain. lying areas was something of which Nothing survives of the first pri- the central authorities had no mitive shack, unlike the simple cot- knowledge and even less interest. tage that he would eventually build. To the settlers, hunting and fishing The much-frequented cottage is were crucial. open in the summertime. Many of “The first thing Pålsson did in the visitors come from Germany, Marsliden was construct a dwelling where Bernhard Nordh became a of the most primitive kind. Farther renowned author. x up among the foothills, the forest
västerbotten was untouched by fire, and Pålsson
12 13 Skellefteå / Hjoggböle, Burträsk
Per Olov Enquist
“Up on the slope, above the green be nowt to do wi t’strike! Then he house, stood the outbuilding with took a deep breath and in his agi- the woodshed and the shithouse, tation let the argument culminate or the privy as we were told to call with a forceful I’s thinking them it. The privy was where you could strikers better leave em to shite in read the paper in peace, and it was peace!” connected to the woodshed. It was From The March of the Musicians, 1985 on fairly high ground: if you ope- But the privy also came to be seen ned the door you could see over as a symbol for the fall of mankind the whole valley, and the lake. You and backsliding: “Sanfrid Gren in could sit there for a long time liste- Västra Hjoggböle was the only one The privy above the green house. Below: Ostens hus (The House of Cheese) in Burträsk. ning to the cows lowing“ in the village to have two shithous- From Captain Nemo’s Library, 1992 es: a privy divided into two sec- The privy, with the connected tions. And he became famous for woodshed, becomes the link bet- it.” ween the earthly world away from “It was arrogance to have two the litanies of the chapel and the shithouses, James Lindgren, who enforced confessions on Saturdays. read from Rosenius, would say. THE AUTHOR The great events in The March of And arrogance is punished by God. Per Olov Enquist, born in 1934, son of the schoolmistress in Hjoggböle. Losing the Musicians (Musikanternas uttåg, And then it didn’t help if the Son his father at an early age, he was brought 1978) are all connected to privies of Man interceded and said to God up by his mother, who was a member of different types: Aron is severe- to spare you. That’s how badly it of the religious movement Evangeliska ly beaten up behind the privy for Fosterlandsstiftelsen, which influenced could go for someone who built his writing. After his studies in Uppsala grassing to the company leader- two shithouses.” he worked among other things as a cul- ship; Nicanor and Elmblad are bea- From Captain Nemo’s Library, 1992 ture critic for the national daily Svenska ten even worse by the Burträsk vil- In the two novels Captain Nemo’s Dagbladet. His writing debut came in 1961 and he has written a score of novels and a dozen dramas. “Many times have I tried, with my tongue, lagers when they dare to go there as Library (Kapten Nemos biliotek) and Per Olov Enquist has won a large number of natio- to understand what is special about this agitators and the issue of whether The March of the Musicians, Per Olov nal and international prizes for his writings. The cheese. But it is like the coastal region: almost or not to build a company privy Enquist took the background set- Hjoggböle region has produced other authors: Anita Salomonsson, Kurt Salomonsson, Hjalmar inhospitably sharp, not instantly charming, causes feelings to run high among ting from the Hjoggböle of his Westerlund. In Ett annat liv Per Olov Enquist also but at the same time like chewing a spruce bud the strikers in Bureå sawmill: “Are childhood years. Recurring motifs associates Stieg Larsson with the village. in spring when it is light green. This cheese is the socialists going to ban shitting include the privy, the cave and the THE PLACE hard to define, not inviting instant love; but now too! He bellowed in an increa- lake (which can no longer be seen A visitor centre has been set up in Sjöns meeting it captivates, and then you are caught.” singly furious voice, and evidently from the yard) – places offering house, next to Per Olov Enquist’s childhood From Per Olov Enquist’s introduction in the culinary guide found the approach right and fruit- calm and links to another world. home, and provides information about the aut- x hors of Hjoggböle. For more information: Med smak av Västerbotten – Ett möte med mat, människor och ful, because he immediately added www.forfattarbyn.se miljöer, 2003.
västerbotten the variant “I’s thinking shiteing or contact Gunnar Hedman on +46 910-801 92.
14 15 Umeå / kvarteret Ripan, Döbelns park
Lars Widding
Lars Widding has used the Umeå of described here is today a listed buil- his youth, both in the ”small town ding, called the Ringstrand Villa, chronicle” of Umeå from the 1930s built for the administrative direc- to the end of the Second World tors of MoDo. War, published in 1978–1981, and One of the main characters in the in the young people’s novels Inga novel series is Ville Sandin, illegi- stormar än (1950) and Sista som- timate son of the town prosecutor. marlovet (1952). The small town In the novel, the Sandin family is chronicle is partly based on well- living in what Widding calls the known figures of the time in Umeå “Donner Residence”. No such re- and many claim to recognise some sidence has ever existed. Instead he of them. The most talked-about of has given a somewhat altered por- them included Thorsten Hellström, trait of his own childhood home in administrative director of the paper the Ripan neighbourhood at what Ringstrand Villa. Below: Monument in Döbeln’s Park. company MoDo and Sigrid Holm- was then Nytorget square. In the ström, a legendary restaurateur at same neighbourhood we also find Sävargården. the Peterson-Berger home, where “And it was true: just behind the the heroes of Frida Åslund’s no- church the brown house towered, vels Folke and Frida got up to mi-
turning its mighty façade and one schief and where Katarina Mazetti THE AUTHOR side towards the pavements. Slowly worked at the local radio studio. Lars Widding was born in 1924. His father ran she walked through a squeaking Ville is something of an alter ego a legal bureau and married a society girl from Umeå. After finishing school, Widding joined the gate into the yard, marvelling at of Widding. Many of the events air force, but had to break off his pilot’s training the clever, ornate carpentry that Ville goes though in the novels are when he contracted tuberculosis. At Österåsen framed the large porch, stepped up described by Widding as belonging sanatorium he came into contact with literature the stairs, had time to realise that to his own childhood in his me- and eventually decided to become a writer. Over the years he wrote about 40 novels, countless the entire courtyard was enclosed moirs Min historia (1983), events short stories and magazine articles, and radio with low wings and outbuildings which slightly amended recur in his and TV shows and he was often enlisted to write that had doors so wide they must young people’s novels. screenplays. Lars Widding became the first hono- rary citizen of Umeå, and after his death in 1994, have served as coach-houses, and Ripornas gård (Ptarmigan Hou- his manuscripts and archives were donated to rang on the door.” se), as Lars Widding calls his child- Västerbotten Museum where the Umeå Exhibition From Pigan och härligheten, 1978 hood home, still stands on the contains a Lars Widding section.
The door she rings on is to Di- corner of Kungsgatan and Nytorgs- THE PLACE rector Sullivan’s residence and she gatan. It was originally built in the Västerbotten Museum: www.vbm.se makes the mistake of going to the 1870s by a warden at the prison. Tel +46 90-17 18 00. x Town walks in the footsteps of Umeå writers are main entrance instead of the kit- arranged through: [email protected].
västerbotten chen entrance near it. The house Phone +46 70-556 55 33.
16 17 Boden / Björkelund
Eyvind Johnson
In Björkelund, Boden, there are boys get there at the same time in a several houses from the early 20th state of collapse from the effort. He century and among them the little remembers this almost fifty years cottage bakery where Nobel Lau- later when, to impress a woman, reate Eyvind Johnson was born in he runs in the classical stadium at 1900. Delphi. It is easy to get the feel of the turn Eyvind Johnson left Norrbotten of the century here among the nar- in 1919 for travels in Europe and row winding streets and the traces was living in Stockholm at the time of past ages’ agriculture and the of his death on 25 August 1976. The then emerging town within the following day, Bengt Russberg wro- town. te in the regional daily Norrländska In 1904, the family moved to Vin- Socialdemokraten: terstigen and came to be the neigh- “He was ours, a European and A walk in Eyvind Johnson’s footsteps. bours of the Rost family, Eyvind cosmopolitan, an honorary doc- Johnson’s aunt and husband. Both tor and a Nobel Prize winner. His THE PLACE houses remain to this day and bear roots are still here in the north. The At the train station, a town walk starts commemorative plaques. whole county mourns its greatest that is based on Vinterresa i Norrbotten When Eyvind Johnson’s father in the world of poetry.” (1955), in which the author writes about people and places from his youth. The fell ill with silicosis the family’s Eyvind Johnson’s birth date, 29 walk includes eight peepshows with life changed. Eyvind Johnson grew July, is annually commemorated photographs and extracts from his books. Theories are presented as to which places up with the Rost family, and one with events at the cottage bakery. x can understand the author’s words in Boden feature in the author’s works. Read about the town walk on: www. when standing on the road between THE AUTHOR bibblo”www.bibblo.se/boden/blog. the two houses: “I went away alt- Eyvind Johnson wrote almost 50 books. He You can find information about the hough I was going home and some- also wrote a large number of letters and travel walk in the left-side menu under Eyvind accounts and wrote a column for Norrländska Johnson. Do not miss the park at the times went home when I was going Socialdemokraten, among other newspapers. Kungsbron bridge where the monument away.” Many of these documents have been published, Gestalt i norr by Berto Marklund was Björkelund is then Eyvind John- for example the excellent collection of letters raised on Eyvind Johnson’s hundredth Resebrev 1921–1952 (2006). In 1957, Eyvind anniversary in 2000. There is a portrait son’s childhood setting. There is a Johnson was elected to the Swedish Academy, of Eyvind Johnson in the church in display on the wall of the cottage occupying Chair 11. In 1974 he was awarded the central Boden, in a large mural by Simon bakery showing pictures of the Nobel Prize, jointly with Harry Martinson, for ”… Sörman. Visit the cottage bakery: go a narrative art, far-seeing in lands and ages, in the along Stationsgatan past the train station family and accounts of different service of freedom” towards Svartbjörnsbyn, and turn right at events in the author’s life. You can Boden Municipality annually awards a prize in Eyvind Johnsons väg. The cottage bakery read here about events including memory of the region’s great author: the Eyvind is open in summer, and guided tours can Vinterstigen: the house (foreground) where Eyvind John- Johnson Prize, which is awarded to artistically be booked at any time of year. Boden Tou- that where Eyvind Johnson and his interesting writings or work of prose. The Eyvind rist Information Bureau, +46 921-624 10. son grew up with the Rost family, and the house in the back-
norrbotten friends ran races to the stream. The Johnson Society: www.eyvindjohnson.org. Boden Municipal Library, +46 921-624 80. ground where his parents and siblings lived.
18 19 Arjeplog / Silvermuseet
Einar Wallquist
The year is 1922 and a new doctor spent the night under his patient’s arrives in the “wilderness village” roof since there were no other op- of Arjeplog, on the shore of Lake tions. It is these journeys and mee- Hornavan, to take over the only tings that form the backbone of Ei- medical practice in an area as large nar Wallquist’s literary works. as Belgium. Doctor Einar Wallquist For those wishing to learn more is just 26 years old and has practi- about Einar Wallquist’s socio- cally no experience of being a doc- historical legacy, there is much to tor or of life in the wilderness. study in Arjeplog. He founded the In one of the short stories in his Silvermuseet (the Silver Museum) debut book Can the doctor come? and in addition to the impressive (Kan doktorn komma?, 1935), he de- silver collection, it houses exhibi- scribes a journey undertaken by tions about people’s conditions and horse and sleigh to see a patient: everyday life and in the early 20th “When we were progressing across century. The author’s desk in the Doctor’s Villa. Below: The Silver Museum, Arjeplog. a small lake, the old man stood at Einar Wallquist lived in a house the back to ride for a while. It was not far from the Silver Museum un- so wonderfully beautiful, with frost til his death in 1985. The Doctor’s on the trees, and straight ahead a Villa, which remains intact from golden-yellow moon, slowly rising the author’s era, can be booked for above the edge of the marsh, large guided viewings. The desk remains and round and beaming. Here on where Wallquist wrote his short the lake, Algot became unsure of stories and other works, as well as the way, and the taciturn youth tur- his imposing book collection com- THE AUTHOR ned to the talkative man at the back prising almost 3,000 volumes and Einar Wallquist published a large number of and asked which way he should ste- the room where Sweden’s current collections of stories and short stories, as well as non-fiction. His literary works have been trans- er the horse. Barely pausing in his king spent the night shortly after lated into several languages and his debut novel was filmed. Einar Wallquist was twice awarded narrative to me, the man barked his coronation. x out: honorary professorships by Umeå University: in philosophy and medicine. Head for the moon, Algot! And Algot headed for the moon, THE PLACE and it was the right way.” The centre for Einar Wallquist’s works is the Silver Museum at Storgatan 20. Here visitors can see Today it is easier to get to Arje- the impressive silver collection and a fine gift plog, but the moon may shine as shop featuring local crafts and literature about beautifully now as then. and from the Arjeplog region. Via the Silver Mu- seum you can also book a viewing of the Doctor’s The doctor travelled widely Villa, call +46 961-145 00 or go to reception at the
norrbotten around Arjeplog and many times he Silver Museum. www.silvermuseet.arjeplog.se.
20 21 Kiruna / Kiruna, Jukkasjärvi, Kurravaara
Åsa Larsson
“As she stands up there at the altar and look out over the window. I she sees the lower part of the organ. want to drink my coffee on the It is almost completely hidden by porch steps on a summer’s morning a wooden strut across the church before work. I want to dig the car interior extending from the ceiling out from the snow in the winter. I down a third of its height. But she want the frost to make flowers on can see the lower part of the organ. my kitchen window.” And she sees a pair of feet hanging That’s how she wants it, Rebecka, down in front of the organ loft.” It when she is not getting mixed up in was here, in Jukkasjärvi church, that different murder investigations. Åsa Larsson had the priest Mildred In the fifth book, due to be publis- Nilsson hanged in Blood spilt (Det hed in spring 2011, with the sugges- blod som spillts, 2004). tive Biblical title Till offer åt Molok Åsa Larsson places her murders (For Sacrifice to Moloch), the action Part of the altarpiece in Jukkasjärvi Church. Below left: the Hjalmar Lundbohm home. in and around Kiruna, and does so has been moved to the Hjalmar Below right: Åsa Larsson’s Kurravaara. with care. Sometimes she asks her Lundbohm Home. It is generally father for help, such as when prepa- known that the home is haunted ring her fourth detective novel Till and Åsa Larsson knows why. All ac- dess din vrede upphör (2008) she was cording to the author herself. Hjal- searching for a lake deep enough to mar Lundbohm was the first direc- conceal an aeroplane. Vittangijärvi, tor of the LKAB mine. was her father’s answer. Authentic places are described in From that, the book begins with Åsa Larsson’s books, but with the the chilling and agonising account author’s artistic licence to omit or of the death by drowning of two add. x young people. Åsa Larsson’s principal character is Rebecka Martinsson, a lawyer working in Stockholm but who is returning to Kiruna, increasingly often after the first novel. Rebecka THE AUTHOR THE PLACE lives in the house of her beloved pa- Åsa Larsson was born and brought up in Kiruna Jukkasjärvi is just under 20 kilometres from Kiruna. and now lives in Mariefred. She has worked as It features the renowned and fantastic 17th century ternal grandmother in Kurravaara, a tax lawyer and was on maternal leave when church with Bror Hjort’s colourful altarpiece. Jukkas- on a bay in the River Torne. she decided to do something for amusement. järvi is also the site of the world-famous Icehotel. “I want to stand out here on the That something was to write books. The author’s Kurravaara is ten kilometres from Kiruna. The Hjalmar grandfather was the legendary competitive skier Lundbohm home is near the town centre, at Ingenjörs- yard and putty the window and “Kiruna-Lasse”, Erik Larsson, who won an Olym- gatan 2. Kiruna Tourist Information Office:
norrbotten now and then simply lift my gaze pic gold in 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. +46 980-188 80.
22 23 Överkalix / Sirillus gård (Tallvik). Pajala / Kassa Bengt Pohjanen
The noted and praised novels Smug- the gravel. They hit a wall full on. glarkungens son (2007) and Tidens Hilma scraped her face and her tvång (2009) have produced a boom bare legs. Naturally she was angry in tours of the smugglers’ country – all hundred kilos of her, and she around Kassa, on the River Torne said that Armas must have a screw in Pajala Municipality, Tornedalen. loose, which he willingly admitted. Coach tours along the river fol- He had it on paper too, signed and low the smuggler books. The river, sealed, which many people don’t which forms the border between have.” Church interior. Sweden and Finland, was pre- The author owns the cycle. viously not a border that separa- “Perhaps Sweden’s most literary ted people from each other. On the bicycle,” he muses. contrary, it united people living on Bengt Pohjanen is closely asso- either side. And of course it was of ciated with meänkieli (Tornedalen immense significance to smuggling. Finnish) which in 2000 was desig- It is the author Bengt Pohjanen nated one of Sweden’s five minori- himself who guides visitors in Kas- ty languages. He published the first sa and at his childhood home. One literary work written in meänkieli of the tales one can hear concerns (Lyykeri, 1985) and has published the author’s birth. For different re- everything from grammar books to The Russian Orthodox church at Tallvik in Över- asons there was a problem getting librettos in meänkieli. His input in kalix, and the author on perhaps Sweden’s most in touch with the midwife and ul- promoting the language is invalua- literary bicycle. timately only uncle Armas was on ble. hand. Armas had been at a boar- On a property on the River Ka- ding school in Piteå for a few years lix in Överkalix stands the Rus- to learn Swedish, a contemporary sian Orthodox church that Bengt THE AUTHOR euphemism for being in psychia- Pohjanen built – Sirillus. It is not Bengt Pohjanen made his debut in 1979 and has publis- tric care. And the uncle was fond of only the church services that bring hed around thirty books. He has written for both adults alcohol. Armas cycled to fetch the tourists; the author receives visitors and young people. The publications include novels, short stories, poems, film scripts, songs, factual books, librettos, midwife Hilma, who weighed over in the church and tells his inimita- and meänkieli grammar books. a hundred kilos. ble stories. His books can also be “Hilma was placed on the luggage bought here, translated into several THE PLACE To book viewings, contact the author on +46 70-567 75 29 rack. Then they set off northwards. languages, and one can see the ex- or [email protected]. The handlebar inebriation had in- hibition of icons painted by Monica The road to Sirillus in Överkalix is signposted “Katolsk creased a little. To Hilma’s horror Pohjanen. kyrka”; and the building stands in the Tallvik area. x The village of Kassa is on Road 99 between Övertorneå he swore like a calendar printer in and Pajala.
norrbotten December. [...] The rig skidded in www.sirillus.se.
24 25 Pajala, Övertorneå, Haparanda
Tornedalen writers
Through history, the River Torne picture of a relationship between a has united people, not separated husband and wife in Tornedalen. them. ’Oh, Mari. Wake up and you’ll get When in 1809 the river came to coffee!’ form the national border, contacts The smith pours the sleep-dispel- became more difficult, but did not ling drink and goes to wake his bet- cease. To this day, people in the val- ter half, who enjoys the privilege, ley, in Kiruna, Pajala, Övertorneå rare among housewives in Torne- and Haparanda, have close rela- dalen, of every morning having tions with their neighbours on the coffee in bed. Mari opens her eyes a Finnish side. The River Torne is a little, yawns and stretches her arms unifying, life-giving, remunerative up. The bed is lovely but the clock and adventuresome artery between is cold-hearted.” The River Torne at Jukkasjärvi. the two countries. You can read Hilja Byström’s writings have about this in many of the books been re-discovered and the novel of the rarities can be read in digital that have been – and still are – writ- Byn (1940) has appeared in a new form on the library’s website. The ten by writers from the region. edition (Barents Publisher, 2008). unique collection is complemen- Tornedalen can boast many excit- It is the author’s descriptions of ted with press cuttings, genealogi- ing writers. Their story begins with Tornedalen, its people, nature and cal archives and sound and image Antti Keksi who lived in the 17th the arrival of modernity in the archives. Naturally there is also a century. His lay is still sung today. village above all that fascinate. portrait of Hilja Byström, signed Later authors include Bengt Pohja- In summer 2008, to mark Hilja Monica Pohjanen. x nen, Gerda Antti, Hilja Byström, Byström’s 100th anniversary the David Vikgren, Gunnar Kieri, musical performance Sånger från Mona Mörtlund, Ester Cullblom, Matojärvi, based on the author’s THE AUTHORS Mikael Niemi and Bengt Kostenius texts, was presented. Antti Keksi, Bengt Pohjanen, Gerda Antti, Hilja Byström, David Vikgren, Gunnar Kieri, Mona among many others. Those wishing to learn more Mörtlund, Ester Cullblom, Mikael Niemi, Bengt From Edward Daniel Clarke’s book Travels in Va- Hilja Byström, born Kallioniemi, about the writings of Hilja Byström Kostenius and others. rious Countries of Europe, Asia and Africa (Lon- was the first to depict Tornedalen and other Tornedalen authors can don, 1819). One of Clarke’s journeys was to Arctic THE PLACE in a literary way, which she did with go on guided coach tours that fol- For guided literary tours, call Marita Mattsson- Scandinavia, of which he wrote with curiosity and her collection of short stories Ett år i low the River Torne. Barsk on +46 927-770 37, +46 70-345 09 02 interest. Järvi (1932). She paints a picture of For those with a special interest, or e-mail: [email protected] For viewing and visiting Nordkalottbiblioteket, call the conflict between ancient tradi- there is an impressive collection +46 927-720 00. The library’s address is tions and young people’s interests of literature about the area in the Matarengivägen 24, opposite the bus station and and creates a number of portraits library Nordkalottbiblioteket in the church in Övertorneå. www.bibblo.se/overtornea/blog. of strong women in her works. The Övertorneå. The oldest books are Övertorneå Tourist Information Office
norrbotten first book begins with a surprising from the 17th century and many +46 927-100 44.
26 27 list of publications (selection)
frida åslund per olov enquist eyvind johnson ester cullblom Folke och Frida, new edition 2008 The March of the Musicians, 1985 Return to Ithaca, 1952 Olga – Kejsarinnan av Kumma- Fridas nya värld, new edition 2009 (Musikanternas uttåg, 1978) (Strändernas svall, 1946) vuopio, 2004 Captain Nemo’s Library, 1992 The Days of His Grace, 1968 Berta och byn. En kvinnas liv sara lidman (Kapten Nemos bibliotek, 1991) (Hans Nådes tid, 1960) i Tornedalen, 2007 Din tjänare hör, 1977 The Visit of the Royal Physician, 1914, 1970 (Nu var det 1914, 1934) Vredens barn, 1979 2002 (Livläkarens besök, 1999) Dreams of Roses and Fire, 1984 gunnar kieri Naboth’s stone, 1989 Lewi’s Journey, 2005 (Drömmar om rosor och eld, 1949) Av dig blir det ingenting, 1976 (Nabots sten, 1981) (Lewis resa, 2001) Pil med järnskodd spets, 1990 Den underbare mannen, 1983 The Story of Blanche and Marie, einar wallquist Finnmarken brinner – Ruija pallaa, Järnkronan, 1985 2006 (Boken om Blanche and Marie, Can the Doctor Come?, 1936 2010 2004) (Kan doktorn komma?, 1935) torgny lindgren Ett annat liv, 2009 bengt kostenius Bathsheba, 1988 (Bat Seba, 1984) åsa larsson Kuolema karhuunpesässä, 2008 Merab’s Beauty and Other Stories, lars widding Sun Storm, 2006 (Solstorm, 2003) Döden sover, 2009 1989 (Merabs skönhet, 1983) Inga stormar än, 1950 Also as The Savage Alter, 2007 The Way of a Serpent, 1990 Sista sommarlovet, 1952 Blood Spilt, 2007 mona mörtlund (Ormens väg på hälleberget, 1982) Majors avsked, 1969 (Det blod som spillts, 2004) Jag passerar Juhonpieti när rallar- Light, 1992 (Ljuset, 1987) Småstadskrönikan / The Black Path, 2008 rosen blommar, 2001 Sweetness, 2000 Small Town Cronicle (Svart stig, 2006) Mörtlunds Mona, 2009 (Hummelhonung, 1995) Pigan och härligheten, 1978 Till offer åt Molok, 2011 Hash, 2004 (Pölsan, 2002) Herrskapet och evigheten, 1979 mikael niemi Minnen, 2010 Längesen förbi, 1980 bengt pohjanen Näsblod under högmässan, 1988 Då tystnar sången, 1981 Lyykeri, 1985 Popular Music from Vittula, 2003 katarina mazetti Trevliga djävlar, 2003 (Populärmusik från Vittula, 2000) Benny & Shrimp, 2008 Smugglarkungens son, 2007 Astrotruckers, 2007 (Grabben i graven bredvid, 1998 ) Tidens tvång, 2009 (Svålhålet, 2004) Tyst! Du är död! 2002 Skjut apelsinen, 2010 Familjegraven, 2005 Tornedalen writers david vikgren bernhard nordh gerda antti Anttikeksiskväde, 2010 I Marsfjällets skugga, 1937 Kväll efter kväll, 1965 Folkmun, 2011 Fjällfolk, 1938 (also published Inte värre än vanligt, 1977 as Flickan från fjällbyn, 1944) Min man David, 2008 Nybyggarna vid Bäversjön, 1942 You can read more about the authors Starkare än lagen, 1943 hilja byström from on the literature page Ett år i Järvi, 1932 of Norrbotten County Library: Byn, 1940 www.norrbottensforfattare.se
28 29 literary tourism in the north
The project Literary Tourism in the Eyvind Johnson home in Boden. North (Litterär turism i norr) has ai- In Västerbotten, you can for ex- med at supporting, developing and ample travel to Raggsjö, in Norsjö marketing literary tourism in the Municipality, and see the lands- counties of Norrbotten and Väster- cape that is featured in Torgny botten. Lindgren’s novels and visit places Literary tourism means tourism from the author’s childhood. In linked to historical or living wri- Umeå, town walks are offered on a ters and to fictional literary figures literary theme where you can learn and literary landscapes. Both in about Katarina Mazetti, Lars Wid- and outside Sweden it has become ding and Frida Åslund. common to follow in the footsteps Literary Tourism in the North (Lit- of authors and literary characters. terär turism i norr) is an EU pro- One example of literary tourism in ject that began in 2008 and ends Sweden is found in Ystad, where in April 2011. The project invol- literary walks are arranged in the ves Västerbotten and Norrbotten footsteps of Henning Mankell’s po- counties and its purpose is to de- lice inspector Wallander. In Vim- velop literary tourism in the two merby, there is tourism centred on northern Swedish counties. Astrid Lindgren’s writings. Besides funding from the Euro- Literary tourism in Norrbot- pean Regional Development Fund, ten comprises for example guided the project is part-funded by Väs- tours that follow the River Torne terbotten County Council, Norr- and deal with the many Tornedalen botten County Council, and the authors, and town walks in Eyvind municipalities of Skellefteå and Johnson’s footsteps and visits to the Umeå. x
30 31 List of photographers, author portraits:
Frida Åslund. Photo: The Research Archives, Umeå University Sara Lidman. Photo: Photo archives, Västerbotten Museum Torgny Lindgren. Photo: Thron Ullberg Katarina Mazetti. Photo: Alfabeta publishers Bernhard Nordh. Photo: Bernhard Nordh Society Per Olov Enquist. Photo: Ulla Montan Lars Widding. Photo: Photo archives, Västerbotten Museum Eyvind Johnson. Photo: Boden Municipality Einar Wallquist. Photo: Photo archives, Silver Museum Åsa Larsson. Photo: Erja Lempinen Bengt Pohjanen. Photo: Kjell Öberg
The picture at page 31 is taken by Maria Öman.
Text & photography, Västerbotten section: Lars Flodström. Text & photography, Norrbotten section: Maria Öman. Translation: Elex, Pajala.
Literary places in Västerbotten & Norrbotten is published by Litterär turism i norr. Project owner: Västerbotten County Library. Editor & graphic designer: Peo Rask. Editorial committee: Steering group of Litterär turism i norr. Digital image processing: Stig Ahlstrand. Cover made by Mikael Heinonen. Printed by Bulls Graphics, Halmstad, 2010. To journey through literature is to discover new places. In this folder you will find some of the literary places in Västerbotten and Norrbotten counties, for example Sara Lidman’s home in Missenträsk and Eyvind Johnson’s cottage bakery in Björkelund, Boden. Enjoy your reading – enjoy your journey!