Karl Ragnar Gierow

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Karl Ragnar Gierow
Born(1904-02-02)2 February 1904
Helsingborg, Sweden
Died30 October 1982(1982-10-30) (aged 78)
Stockholm, Sweden
Occupationauthor, theatre director, and translator
NationalitySwedish
Member of the Swedish Academy
(Seat No. 7)
In office
20 December 1961 – 30 October 1982
Preceded byHjalmar Gullberg
Succeeded byKnut Ahnlund
Permament Secretary
of the Swedish Academy
In office
June 1964 – May 1977
Preceded byAnders Österling
Succeeded byLars Gyllensten

Karl Ragnar Knut Gierow (2 April 1904 – 30 October 1982) was a Swedish theater director, author and translator.[1]

Biography[edit]

Gierow was born and grew up in Helsingborg. He enrolled at Lund University in 1922, and received a licentiate degree in 1934.[2]

Gierow was employed at Norstedts publishing 1930–1937, then was a literary employee at Sveriges Radiotjänst in 1937–1946. He was the head of the literary section of Svenska Dagbladet in 1946–51. Between 1951 and 1963 Gierow was managing director of the Royal Dramatic Theatre. During his time, many new European (and controversial) plays were performed there, including plays by Bertolt Brecht, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Eugene O'Neill.[3] Gierow directed plays himself during all his time as managing director. [4]

Gierow also wrote poetry, lyrics for popular songs, plays, essays and screenplays.[3] He received several awards for his writing, including the Bellman Prize in 1977.[2]

He was a member of the Swedish Academy from 1961 and its permanent secretary from 1964 to 1977. He was a member of the Swedish Academy's Nobel Committee in 1963–1982 and its chairman 1970–1980. His wife Karin died in 1971. [3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Karl Ragnar Gierow". karlragnargierow.se. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Gierow, Karl Ragnar" (in Swedish). Swedish Academy. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Karl Ragnar Gierow". Nationalencyklopedin. Malmö: Nationalencyklopedin AB.
  4. ^ "Gierow, Karl Ragnar". alex.se. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
Cultural offices
Preceded by Swedish Academy,
Seat No.7

1961–82
Succeeded by