- Born:
- Nov. 19, 1883, Ărebro, Swed.
- Died:
- Jan. 1, 1931, Berlin (aged 47)
Hjalmar Fredrik Elgérus Bergman
-
Who was Hjalmar Fredrik Elgérus Bergman?
Hjalmar Fredrik ElgĂ©rus Bergman (1883â1931) was a Swedish dramatist, novelist, and short-story writer known for his deep interest in psychological complexities. Bergman's notable works include the comic novel Markurells i Wadköping (1919; Godâs Orchid, 1924) and the play Swedenhielms (1925). Four of his plays were translated into English in 1968: Markurells of Wadkoping, The Baronâs Will, Swedenhielms, and Mr. Sleeman Is Coming. Bergman's work, appreciated by few initially, captured a wider audience with his vigorous comic novel, Markurells i Wadköping.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What country was Hjalmar Bergman from?
Hjalmar Fredrik ElgĂ©rus Bergman was a Swedish author, born in Ărebro, Sweden, on November 19, 1883. Bergman was a dramatist, novelist, and short-story writer known for his keen interest in psychological complexities. His writings often depicted the mining district outside Ărebro, known as Bergslagen. Bergman's widely known works include the satiric novel Markurells i Wadköping (1919; Godâs Orchid) and the play Swedenhielms (performed 1925).
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What types of books and stories did Hjalmar Bergman write?
Hjalmar Fredrik Elgérus Bergman was a Swedish author known for his psychological insight, who wrote novels, short stories, and plays. His first play, Maria, Jesu moder (1905), showed an original approach to the psychology of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Bergman's first popular novel, Hans NĂ„ds testamente (1910), was set in Bergslagen and portrayed the eccentric Baron Roger and his valet Vickberg. His collection of short stories Amourer (1910) displayed his subtle understanding of the irrational in human behavior. Bergman also wrote radio and film scripts, and his play Swedenhielms (1925) is among the few living Swedish comedies.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some of Hjalmar Bergmanâs most famous works?
Hjalmar Bergman was a Swedish dramatist, novelist, and short-story writer known for his exploration of psychological complexities.
Some of his most famous works include:
* Hans NĂ„ds testamente (1910; His Graceâs Will)
* Markurells i Wadköping (1919; Godâs Orchid, 1924)
* Farmor och vÄr Herre (1921; Thy Rod and Thy Staff, 1937)
* Chefen Fru Ingeborg (1924; The Head of the Firm, 1936)
* Swedenhielms (1925)
* Clownen Jac (1930; "The Clown Jac")His works often blend humor with underlying tragedy and explore the dynamics of families and communities in the Bergslagen region.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Hjalmar Bergmanâs writing style or themes make him unique?
Hjalmar Bergman was notable for his keen interest in psychological complexities. His writing style included grotesque, fantastic, and somber elements, yet was moving, making his world unique despite its real-life setting. Bergman's work often contained undertones of tragedy beneath the humor, a characteristic of his later works. His amazing memory and powers of observation enabled him to create a world that was peculiarly his own, derived from his experiences and oral traditions. Bergman produced memorable short stories, but his real medium was the lyric.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How has Hjalmar Bergman influenced Swedish literature or culture?
Hjalmar Bergman, a Swedish dramatist, novelist, and short-story writer, significantly impacted Swedish literature through his intense exploration of psychological complexities. Bergman's works often featured undertones of tragedy beneath humor, a style that became his trademark.
His novel Markurells i Wadköping (1919; Godâs Orchid, 1924) captured a wider audience, and his play Swedenhielms (1925) remains one of the few living Swedish comedies. Bergman's ability to create a grotesque, fantastic, and somber world from his experiences and oral traditions set him apart, appreciated both by critics and the public.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Hjalmar Fredrik ElgĂ©rus Bergman (born Nov. 19, 1883, Ărebro, Swed.âdied Jan. 1, 1931, Berlin) was a Swedish dramatist, novelist, and short-story writer, who was notable for his intense interest in psychological complexities.
The son of a wealthy banker, Bergman was brought up in conventional middle-class ease with no notice taken of his extreme sensibility and imaginative powers. In his early teens his father, who had hitherto despised him, became aware of his precocious talents, and the shy, awkward, but observant boy became the object of an overpowering and domineering affection. At this period he accompanied his father on business trips to Bergslagen, the mining district outside Ărebro, which was to form the background of many of his books.
During 1900â01 Bergman studied at Uppsala University. From 1901 to 1908 he travelled in Europe, especially in Italy: Florence became his favourite city. Delicate nerves and the threat of blindness made his life difficult. In 1908 he married Stina, the daughter of the actor-producer August Lindberg, and she became his defense against the world. They settled first in Lindesberg, then for a time in Rome. For the rest of his life, except during World War I, Bergman led a restless and curiously isolated existence between Sweden and other parts of Europe.
His first play, Maria, Jesu moder (1905), owes much to the literary ideas of the 1890s, but shows an original approach to the psychology of Christ and the Virgin Mary. His other early plays reveal the influence of Ibsen. His most original contribution to drama was Marionettspel (1917; âPlays of Marionettesâ), reflecting the same pessimism as his later novels. His first popular novel Hans NĂ„ds testamente (1910; âHis Graceâs Willâ) was set in Bergslagen, and portrayed the eccentric Baron Roger and his valet Vickberg in richly comic scenes. Beneath the humour, however, there are undertones of tragedy, as is characteristic, too, of his later works. A collection of short stories Amourer (1910), mostly set in Italy, displays his subtle understanding of the irrational as a decisive factor in human behaviour. Bergman produced a series of novels and long short stories, starting with Vi Bookar, Krokar och Rothar (1912) and ending with En döds memoarer (1918; âMemoirs of One Deadâ). These were mainly concerned with Bergslagen, from early times, and with the fortunes and complicated feuds of certain families and characters.
His amazing memory and powers of observation enabled Bergman to create out of his own experiences and out of oral traditions, a grotesque, fantastic, sombre, and yet moving world that was peculiarly his own, despite its real-life setting. His work was appreciated by a discriminating few, until with Markurells i Wadköping (1919; Godâs Orchid, 1924) he at last captured the wider public. The action of this vigorous comic novel takes place, with numerous recapitulations, within a 24-hour period. It tells the story of the grotesque innkeeper Markurell, who, although he has succeeded in getting most of the inhabitants of the town of Wadköping in his power, shows mercy, out of love for his only son Johan, whose real father proves to be the innkeeperâs chief enemy. The novel is written ironically, but a sense of tragedy permeates it.
Bergman followed this with other successes, including Farmor och vĂ„r Herre (1921; Thy Rod and Thy Staff, 1937) and Chefen Fru Ingeborg (1924; The Head of the Firm, 1936), and Clownen Jac (1930; âThe Clown Jacâ).
His play Swedenhielms (1925) is among the few living Swedish comedies and his dramatization of Markurells also has remained popular. Four of his plays (Markurells of Wadkoping, The Baronâs Will, Swedenhielms, and Mr. Sleeman Is Coming) were published in English translation in 1968. He also wrote radio and film scripts. Fundamentally a pessimist, Bergman felt for all the weaknesses of man with an understanding pity irradiated by humour.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
