Astrid Lindgren

Astrid Lindgren
was a Swedish author, best known for her series of books featuring the character
Pippi Longstocking.
Lindgren was born near Vimmerby, Sweden, in 1907. Her love of stories as a child
would influence her later work. At eighteen, she moved to Stockholm, leaving
behind her job at the Vimmerby newspaper and its editor in chief, with whose
child she was pregnant.
In Stockholm, Lindgren became a typist and stenographer. In 1931 she married
Sture Lindgren, with whom she had a daughter. Lindgren first came up with the
character of Pippi Longstocking while telling her daughter a story.
After working as a secretary and journalist, Lindgren began writing in 1944.
Between 1944 and 1946, Lindgren would write six books. Pippi Longstocking was
published in 1945 and was a quick success.
Lindgren began working for her publisher, Rabén & Sjögren, in 1946 and was given
the responsibility of distribution of children’s books. In addition to her work
for Rabén & Sjögren, she also continued with other writing jobs. In 1948, she
went to the United States to write short essays for a women’s magazine.
Along with Pippi Longstocking, Lindgren created other memorable characters such
as Karlsson-on-the-Roof, Bill Bergson, and The Six Bullerby Children. Through
her writing, she was an influential on Swedish public opinion and politics. Up
until her death in 2002, she remained an outspoken advocate of peace, animal
protection, and children’s rights.
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