Gunnar Björling (31 May, 1887 – 11 July, 1960) was a Finnish-Swedish poet and is considered to be the foremost modernist in these countries’ literature.
Fun facts about Gunnar Björling:
- Gunnar Olof Björling was born in Helsinki, Finland. He graduated with a degree in philosophy from the University of Helsinki.
- During his years at the university Mr. Björling became a passionate socialist, very active in trade unions.
- When the Finnish Civil War started in 1918, Mr. Björling supported the refugee government of White Finland (Whites) who fought the “Reds” or Red Guard who represented the Labor Movement.
- After the war, Gunnar Björling sat on the court that sentenced the captured Reds. When he got older, he distanced himself from his after-war activities.
- In 1922, when he was 35 years old, Gunnar Björling published his first book of prose and poems called Vilande dag (Resting Day).
- The poet experimented with dadaism, artists who reject logic, reason, and capitalism. Hence one might hear Gunnar Björling being referred to as “Europe’s last dadaist”.
- Gunnar Björling was open about his bisexuality. This was when it was considered socially unacceptable.
- The poems of Gunnar Björling are known to be challenging to read, like those of Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot.
- Gunnar Björling wrote in ordinary words, breaking up grammar and syntax, saying that “my language is not in the words”.
- Today, Gunnar Björling is recognized as one of the major poets who wrote in Swedish.
Zohar – Man of la Book
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Sources:
Gunnar Björling: An Introduction by Fredrik Hertzberg |upenn.edu
The 20th century Finland-Swedish literature | Britannica
Gunnar Björling (1887–1960) | nordics.info
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Fun Facts Friday: Gunnar Björling
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Gunnar Björling (31 May, 1887 – 11 July, 1960) was a Finnish-Swedish poet and is considered to be the foremost modernist in these countries’ literature
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Man of la Book
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