Birger Sjöberg (1885–1929) was a Swedish poet, novelist and songwriter, whose best-known works include the faux-naïf song collection Fridas Bok (Frida's Book) and the novel Kvartetten Som Sprängdes (The Quartet That Split Up),[1] a somewhat Dickensian relation about stock-exchange gambling in the twenties, and the frantic efforts to recover.

Birger Sjöberg
Birger Sjöberg in the mid 1920's, playing the guitar
Born	(1885-12-06)6 December 1885 Vänersborg
Died	30 April 1929(1929-04-30) (aged 43) Växjö
Occupation	poet, novelist, songwriter

Originally a journalist, Sjöberg wrote songs in his spare time. His debuted as a serious writer with the 1922 publication of Fridas Bok (Frida's Book), which was both a critical and popular success. Following a series of concert tours, he withdrew from public life and focused on his writing.[1]

After his death in 1929, a new series of songs and a selection of poems were published.[1]

Selected works

Prose and poetry by Birger Sjöberg:

• Fridas Bok (Frida's Book) 1922
• Kvartetten Som Sprängdes (The Quartet That Split Up) 1924
• Kriser Och Kransar (Crises And Laurel Wreaths) 1926
• Fridas Andra Bok (Frida's Second Book) 1929
• Minnen Från Jorden (Memories From The Earth) 1940

Translations of his works in English

• Anthology of Swedish Lyrics 1930 [2]
• Modern Swedish Poetry Pt. 2 1936 [3]
• Scandinavian Songs and Ballads 1950 [4]
• Twentieth Century Scandinavian Poetry 1950 [5]
• Twelve Pieces from Frida’s Book 1975 [6]
• When First I Ever Saw You LP 1980 [7]
• Swedes On Love CD 1991 [8]
• Frida's New Clothes 2008 [9]

His life in English

• A History of Swedish Literature 1961 [10]
• A History of Swedish Literature 1989 [11]
• A History of Swedish Literature 1996 [12]

Image gallery

• 
  Birger Sjöberg's birthplace in Vänersborg
• 
  Birger Sjöberg's grave at the Donation Cemetery in Helsingborg
• 
  Frida statue in Vänersborg
• 
  The Quartet That Split Up 1962

See also

• Swedish ballad tradition

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Birger Sjöberg.

• Free scores by Birger Sjöberg in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki).
• Birger Sjöberg at the Umeå Academic Choir.

Swedish

• Birger Sjöberg at Swedish music and film.
• Fridas bok at Project Runeberg.
• Fridas andra bok at Project Runeberg.
• Fridas bok at Swedish Wikisource.

English

• Birger Sjöberg profile
• Paris of the North

Translations

• The butterfly at Haga (Fjärilen på Haga)
• Frida cleans house (Frida i vårstädningen)
• The first time that I saw you (Den första gång jag såg dig)

На других языках

[fr] Birger Sjöberg

[ru] Шёберг, Биргер