Tomas TranstromerAwards:
Neustadt International Prize for Literature -1990 ;
Nobel Prize in Literature-2011
Born: 15/04/1931 in Stockholm, Sweden
Citizen: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Transtromer is a poet of extraordinary sensitivity
who explores life, death, nature and human behaviour with powerful
narratives and unique visual imagery. His poems have been translated
to more than 70 languages and he has been a dominant figure in
Scandinavian literary landscape.
Transtromer was brought up by her mother who was a school teacher
since the parents had separated soon after his birth. He did his
schooling in Stockholm and joined University of Stockholm to complete
his graduation in Psychology. He graduated in 1956 and did history,
literature besides Psychology.
He started writing right from his school days. His first book 17
Poems was published in 1954 followed by other poems. There has
been general perception that his poems do not touch upon the social
issues of his time. Rather, the mystic aspect underlying our daily
lives and the surreal aspect of human existence are portrayed more
than the contemporary themes. Transtromer's poems are simple and
retain their comprehensibility and lyrical grace even in translation.
It is particularly noteworthy to mention the name of English poet
Robert Bly and Syrian poet Adunis who played a major role
in popularizing his poems to the English speaking world and Arab World
respectively.
Transtromer was a social activist who voiced his sorrow and resentment
through poetry. In the aftermath of Bhopal Gas Tragedy in in India
1984, he flew to Bhopal and participated in a poetry reading session
along with poet K. Satchidanandan.
In 1990, he was struck by partial paralysis and could not speak
and was confined to home. But he continued to write.
Notable Works: 17
dikter-17 Poems(1954) ; Den halufardiga himlen-The
Half-Finished Heaven(1958),Klanger och spar-Bells & Tracks(1966);
Ostersjoar-Baltic(1974) ;For levande och doda-For the Living
and the Dead(1989)
; Sorgegandolen-The Sorrow Gondola(1996);Den Stora gatan-The
Great Engima(2004); Minnena Ser mig-Memories Look at Me(1993);

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