Maria Gripe

Maria Gripe, born Maja Stina Walter (25 July 1923 – 5 April 2007), was a Swedish author of books for children and young adults, which were often written in magical and mystical tone. She has written almost forty books, with many of her characters presented in short series of three or four books (e.g., the Hugo and Josephine books, the Shadow series, and the titles about Lotten). For her lasting contribution to children's literature, she received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Writing in 1974. The change in her writing style from her less mature work was partly a result of the influence of Edgar Allan Poe, Charlotte and Emily Brontë, and Carl Jonas Love Almquist, and partly a reaction to violence in entertainment that had begun to gain ground in cultural expression; Gripe sought to manufacture plot tension in less overt ways.

A prominent feature of Maria Gripe's writing is a respect for individuals and their unique characteristics, a trait which is especially perceptible in the social realism of the Elvis series, which she co-wrote with her husband Harald in the 1970s.

Another recurring leitmotif in Gripe's books is shadow, particularly in the series which began with Skuggan över stenbänken ("The shadow on the stone bench", 1982).

Books in English translation Josephine (Josefin, 1961) Hugo and Josephine (Hugo och Josefin, 1962) Pappa Pellerin's Daughter (Pappa Pellerins dotter, 1963) The Glassblower's Children (Glasblåsarns barn, 1964) In the Time of the Bells (I klockornas tid, 1965) Hugo (Hugo, 1966) The Land Beyond (Landet utanför, 1967) The Night Daddy (Nattpappan, 1968) Julia's House (Julias hus och nattpappan, 1971) Elvis and his Secret (Elvis Karlsson, 1972) Elvis and his Friends (Elvis! Elvis!, 1973) The Green Coat (...ellen, dellen..., 1974) Agnes Cecilia (Agnes Cecilia – en sällsam historia, 1981)

Adaptations and translations

Gripe wrote 38 books, translated into 30 different languages, making her one of Sweden's most prolific writers. Her last published book was Annas blomma ("Anna's Flower", 1997). Several of Gripe's books have been filmed, such as Glasblåsarns barn ("The Glassblower's Children") and Agnes Cecilia - en sällsam historia ("Agnes Cecilia: a singular history"), directed by Anders Grönros in the 1990s. In 1967, Kjell Grede directed Hugo and Josephine, considered the first Swedish children's film, which received critical acclaim for its artistic value as well as for the story itself. In 1976, Kay Pollak also filmed Elvis! Elvis! (Elvis and his friends), which Gripe co-wrote with him after his serial The Secret Reality made a profound impression on the author.